Yeo: "Coast Guard Discussed with National Security Office During Position Reversal" Presidential Office Calls It "Baseless Political Attack" (Summary)

Democratic Party "Discussed with National Security Office during Coast Guard's Position Reversal"...Presidential Office "No Involvement"

Kim Byung-joo, head of the West Sea Public Officials Death Incident Task Force of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the first TF meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Koo Chae-eun, Lee Ki-min] The Democratic Party of Korea claimed on the 29th that the Coast Guard reversed its stance on the victim's defection to North Korea in the so-called 'West Sea Public Official Killing Incident' after holding multiple discussions with the Presidential Office's National Security Office.

The Democratic Party's Task Force (TF) on the West Sea Public Official Killing Incident held a press conference at the National Assembly that morning and announced this. Previously, at its first meeting the day before, the TF mentioned that after hearing reports from the Ministry of National Defense and Coast Guard officials, evidence emerged that the Presidential Office intervened during the Coast Guard's reversal of the investigation results. TF leader Rep. Kim Byung-joo explained at the press conference, "The Coast Guard held a press conference announcing their final position on June 16. When we asked when they started preparing the press release, they said they began in early June," adding, "During that process, they had multiple discussions with the National Security Office."

Rep. Kim said, "They essentially spent three weeks preparing the press release," and added, "The fact that opinions went back and forth for three weeks indicates deep involvement by the National Security Office."

He continued, "When we asked the Coast Guard, 'How did the Ministry of National Defense and the Coast Guard come to hold the press conference together?' the Coast Guard replied, 'The Presidential Office's National Security Office acted as a bridge and mediator,'" and added, "We currently believe the Presidential Office's National Security Office was deeply involved, and the TF will clarify the facts by receiving reports from the Minister of National Defense and the Commissioner of the Coast Guard."

In response, the Presidential Office stated, "The opposition party's claim that the Presidential Office led the Coast Guard's announcement of investigation results regarding the West Sea Public Official Killing Incident is an absurd political attack." The Presidential Office's spokesperson office said in a media statement that day, "We reiterate that the Presidential Office was not involved in the Coast Guard's investigation or reversal of its stance," refuting the claims.

The spokesperson's office added, "We will not respond to the opposition party's baseless political attacks that have no factual basis," emphasizing, "We believe the opposition party should take seriously the criticism that they neglected to protect the lives of the people during their time in power and cooperate with the truth-finding efforts, such as the disclosure of presidential records, rather than engaging in reckless political attacks."