Park Ji-won "Yoon Administration Underestimates the People... Yoo Byung-ho Secretary-General Must Be Dismissed"

"Reporting to the Chief of the Presidential Office is Reporting to the President"
"Investigation of the West Sea Official Shooting Incident Involves Illegality and Abuse of Power"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yoon-jin] Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won stated on the 6th that the exposure of text messages between Yoo Byung-ho, Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection, and Lee Gwan-seop, Senior Secretary for National Planning at the Presidential Office, shows that "the administration is underestimating the people too much." Park appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' that day and said, "President Yoon Seok-yeol seems to be lying too much to the public."

Earlier on the 5th, a text message sent by Secretary General Yoo to Senior Secretary Lee saying, "Today, a proper explanatory statement will be released again. The intention is to tell them not to talk nonsense," was exposed, raising controversy over the political neutrality of the Board of Audit and Inspection. President Yoon, on his way to the presidential office the next day, said he had not properly confirmed the report and stated, "The independence of the Board of Audit and Inspection is guaranteed by law."

Regarding President Yoon's response, former Director Park expressed doubt, saying, "What Secretary General Yoo Byung-ho reported to Senior Secretary Lee Gwan-seop is being reported to the Blue House Presidential Office. That is the same as reporting to the president." He criticized Senior Secretary Lee's explanation that it was a simple inquiry related to media reports about the Board of Audit and Inspection, saying, "The fact that Senior Secretary Lee asked Secretary General Yoo, who is the real power in the Board of Audit and Inspection, is itself a problem. (The Board of Audit and Inspection is an independent) constitutional institution, so why is he asking?"

Criticism was also raised about the content of the exposed text messages. Former Director Park pointed to the phrase "talk nonsense," saying, "How can such an expression be used? That is also a vulgar term," and emphasized, "This is a kind of report from the Secretary General of the Board of Audit and Inspection to Senior Secretary Lee."

Former Director Park called for the dismissal of Secretary General Yoo, saying that the Board of Audit and Inspection's "political revenge audit" has gone too far. He refuted the Board of Audit and Inspection's statement the previous day that the audit of the West Sea public official shooting incident falls under "routine public official inspection," saying, "(Routine audits) refer to routine matters." He drew a line, saying he has no intention of cooperating with the investigation, stating, "Investigating the former president and two National Intelligence Service directors without following proper procedures is illegal and an abuse of authority."

Meanwhile, former Director Park also revealed plans to rejoin the Democratic Party of Korea soon during the broadcast. He expressed his intention to rejoin, saying, "I recently called Representative Lee Jae-myung," but drew a line by saying, "I do not plan to return to the front lines of politics yet."