Heated Debate Between Ruling and Opposition Parties Over Seo Hoon's Detention... Heightened Sensitivity to Possible Investigation of Moon Jae-in (Comprehensive)

與 "Moon seems to live in a world different from the people"
野 "If you don't listen, they arrest anyone regardless of who they are"
Investigation likely to target Moon... Park Ji-won summons 'next step'

Former National Security Office Director Seo Hoon, who was the top official in the Moon Jae-in administration's North Korea security line during the "West Sea Public Official Shooting Incident," is attending the warrant hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 2nd. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporters Lee Ji-eun, Geum Bo-ryeong, Park Jun-yi] On the 5th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over former National Security Office Director Seo Hoon’s arrest related to the shooting of government officials in the West Sea, with President Moon Jae-in’s harsh criticism calling it a "breach of trust assets." The ruling party attacked President Moon’s remark that Seo is a 'trust asset,' while the opposition labeled it as 'political retaliation.' Ultimately, predictions are emerging that the investigation’s focus will extend to former President Moon himself.

◆Ruling Party Unanimously Criticizes Moon... "Investigation Inevitable" Remarks = On the morning of the 5th, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, pointed out President Moon’s remarks during an emergency committee meeting at the National Assembly, saying, "Was the Korea-US relationship really that good during Seo’s tenure, and was the North Korean nuclear crisis resolved? It seems President Moon lives in a world different from that of the people."

Floor leader Joo said, "The North Korean nuclear missile threat is more serious than ever, and North Korea continues to threaten war daily," adding, "Those who dealt with the North Korean nuclear issue during the Trump administration have recorded in their memoirs that President Moon was close to a liar. I really don’t understand what kind of trust existed between Korea and the US."

He continued, "Throughout the Moon Jae-in administration, over 1,000 people were investigated under the pretext of clearing deep-rooted evils, and more than 200 were arrested," emphasizing, "They arrested five National Intelligence Service chiefs, who are supposed to be security experts, so I don’t understand how anyone can now say that former Director Seo was a security expert and a valuable asset."

Emergency committee member Jeong Jeom-sik also said, "I want to ask former President Moon, who exactly forced such an asset to be branded as a defector or evidence fabricator and caused such a regrettable situation?"

Jeong added, "President Moon’s continuous insistence that the defection accusation was a legitimate measure without even a single apology for Lee Dae-jin, who was killed by North Korean soldiers and could not be rescued, is a cruel act that makes the bereaved families suffer twice," and questioned, "Does former President Moon, who only watched helplessly as the people were brutally killed by North Korean soldiers while clinging to a fake peace show and only worrying about North Korea’s feelings, have the right to say such things?"

He further explained, "Instead of expressing fear of his own flaws being exposed as anger, former President Moon should stop intimidating the prosecution and politicizing the issue, apologize to the people, and show responsibility?that would be the minimum duty of a former president."

◆Opposition Reacts with 'Witch Hunt' and 'Political Retaliation' = Go Min-jung, Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party of Korea, countered at the party’s Supreme Council meeting that day, saying, "The arrest and investigation of former Director Seo is a clear political oppression and political retaliation," and argued, "They requested an arrest warrant citing concerns over evidence destruction, but he is a civilian and has been cooperating sincerely with the investigation so far."

Go also delivered a sharp message toward the prosecution on YTN Radio’s 'News King Park Ji-hoon,' saying, "If someone doesn’t listen to their words, they arrest and imprison anyone, conducting a witch hunt and trying to cut off all critical forces."

Jin Sung-jun, Democratic Party’s senior deputy floor leader, also raised issues on SBS Radio’s 'Kim Tae-hyun’s Political Show' regarding the investigation of former Director Seo, saying, "There are various intelligence reports, and judging the situation based on these reports is a matter of judgment, isn’t it? I think conducting an investigation based on this judgment itself is unfair."

Earlier, Kim Ui-gyeom, Democratic Party spokesperson, held a press conference at the National Assembly the previous day, stating, "Former Director Seo is the top security expert who handled North Korea affairs at the National Intelligence Service for 30 years. He is also an outstanding negotiator who contributed to peace on the Korean Peninsula and is an asset the nation should protect," adding, "However, he was arrested due to retaliatory prosecution by the prosecution." He continued, "Who will now step forward as an expert for peace on the Korean Peninsula?" and asserted, "The truth will surely be revealed."

◆Is the Final Target Moon? = In political circles, there is a growing expectation that the investigation will ultimately target former President Moon. The ruling party argues that as the commander-in-chief at the time of the West Sea shooting incident, he cannot evade responsibility, while the opposition claims the investigation is 'political retaliation.'

On the same day, Jeon Ju-hye, a People Power Party lawmaker, attending the emergency committee meeting, said, "There can be no sanctuary before crime, so investigation of former President Moon is inevitable," adding, "While our government officials were burned and falsely accused of voluntary defection, it remains unclear what former President Moon did for the people, and the public is demanding answers."

She further demanded, "Former President Moon should not judge the prosecution and judiciary with political judgments and language but should clearly state his position before the people, acknowledging that he received reports and made decisions himself."

Yoon Geon-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker, said on CBS Radio’s 'Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show' that "The sharp edge of this political retaliation by the Yoon government is aimed at former President Moon and is intended to humiliate and insult key figures of the Moon administration," adding, "The prosecution is investigating not only the West Sea government official incident but also the Four Major Rivers project dam openings, Wolseong nuclear power plant, and the expulsion of heinous criminals from the East Sea, all incidents during the Moon administration." He also predicted that former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won will soon be summoned.