Yoon Geon-young: "Moon Administration Never Interfered with Counterintelligence Investigations"

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Yoon Gun-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea known as the first Chief of the National Situation Room under the Moon Jae-in administration and the 'right-hand man' of former President Moon Jae-in, has rebutted media reports claiming that "the Moon Jae-in government botched spy investigations," stating, "I can say with certainty that the Moon Jae-in government never interfered with the National Intelligence Service's counterintelligence investigations."

On the 19th, Yoon said this through his social media (SNS), urging, "Please stop blaming the previous administration."

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is making a parliamentary procedure statement regarding the remarks of Kim Moon-soo, Chairman of the Economic, Social and Labor Council, during the audit of 12 affiliated organizations including the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He said, "When it comes to catching spies who harm national interests, what other calculations could possibly be involved?" and emphasized, "Moreover, spy investigations are on a completely different level than catching pickpockets. Even if there is suspicion, it is an investigation where suspects cannot be immediately arrested as caught in the act."

He explained the reason for the delayed investigation, saying, "It is necessary to covertly identify the hidden organization as much as possible to find out who the top leader is, and to secure physical evidence to enable a complete crackdown. Naturally, this takes a long time."

Yoon also pointed out that the recent investigation is "peculiar." He said, "Since secrecy is vital in spy investigations, it is customary not to report to anywhere, including the National Assembly, while the investigation is ongoing. Yet, how is it that recently pieces of the related investigation have been leaking to the media daily?" and criticized, "It seems like media play."

He added, "Even if the investigation is quiet, spies tend to slip through the net, so can a proper investigation be possible by making the whole neighborhood noisy?" and said, "A strange situation is unfolding that ignores the ABCs of spy investigations."