Kukim Urges Truth Investigation into 'Defection Fabrication'
Democrats Counter 'Smearing Previous Government'
[Asia Economy Reporters Oh Ju-yeon, Kwon Hyun-ji, Lee Ki-min] The political sphere continues to clash over whether the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official killed by North Korean forces in 2020 had defected to the North in the West Sea shooting incident. The People Power Party has called for a thorough investigation, accusing the Moon Jae-in administration of fabricating the defection narrative, while the Democratic Party has rebutted, calling it a conspiracy theory aimed at tarnishing the previous government. On the 20th, President Yoon Suk-yeol hinted at the possibility of disclosing additional information regarding cases the previous administration refused to reveal, suggesting that the power struggle between the old and new authorities will continue.
On the same day, Kwon Seong-dong, floor leader of the People Power Party, criticized at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly, saying, "A South Korean official was brutally killed by North Korea, but the government justified North Korea's atrocity by labeling it as a 'defection' and inflicted secondary harm on the bereaved families. The Democratic Party's response that they will not remain silent if provoked is unreasonable. It only amplifies public suspicion about what truths have been concealed."
The People Power Party plans to launch the ‘West Sea Official Shooting Incident Truth Investigation Task Force’ on the 21st and hold its first meeting. The task force will be led by three-term lawmaker Ha Tae-kyung, with members including Kim Seok-ki, Shin Won-sik, Kang Dae-sik, Jeon Ju-hye, and Ahn Byung-gil. On the same day, lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo proposed via Facebook the establishment of a ‘Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Official Shooting Incident Investigation Committee’ at the National Assembly level, stating, "Access to the materials designated as presidential records related to the killed official’s case is possible if two-thirds of the National Assembly members agree, so if only the Democratic Party consents, the truth can be revealed."
Meanwhile, President Yoon also pressured the previous government and opposition parties by mentioning the reinvestigation of the West Sea official incident. On his way to the Yongsan office, he told reporters regarding the opposition’s criticism of the reinvestigation as a ‘new colorism’ that "it will be handled fairly according to law and principles." When asked about other cases where the previous government refused disclosure and legal procedures are ongoing, he said, "Protecting the people is the nation’s foremost duty," and added, "If the public has doubts and the government shows a passive stance, isn’t that a problem? We will carefully review that part," implying that additional information previously withheld by the Moon administration could be disclosed.
On the other hand, the Democratic Party countered by calling it ‘new colorism and conspiracy theories’ and directly responded that the disclosure of SI (Special Intelligence) information containing government reports at the time of the West Sea official shooting incident can be done by the government and ruling party. Pro-Moon lawmaker Yoon Geon-young appeared on MBC Radio that day and said, "Since intelligence assets lose significant value once disclosed, the principle is not to disclose SI information," but added, "(Disclosing SI information) is not something that requires bipartisan agreement; it can be done if the government and ruling party decide to disclose it."
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