Ruling Party "Stop Anti-American Agitation" vs Opposition "Truth Investigation"... Clash over US Eavesdropping (Summary)

Controversy Over US Intelligence Agency Eavesdropping Allegations at Presidential Office
People Power Party: "Anti-American Propaganda Like China and Russia"
Democratic Party: "Hold Relevant Standing Committee to Uncover Truth"

On the 11th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over allegations of wiretapping by the U.S. intelligence agency's National Security Office. The Democratic Party of Korea called for a thorough investigation, citing the presidential office's relocation to Yongsan as the background for the wiretapping, while the People Power Party urged to stop the 'anti-American agitation.'

Members of the National Defense Committee, Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, and Intelligence Committee from the People Power Party held a press conference at the National Assembly on the same day, criticizing, "The Democratic Party is treating the media's suspicion reports as facts and is obsessed with political attacks against the government and anti-American agitation, claiming 'sovereignty infringement' and 'security vacuum due to the hasty relocation of the presidential office.'

Shin Won-sik, the ruling party's secretary of the National Defense Committee, pointed out, "There are two countries showing abnormal behavior worldwide: China and Russia," adding, "China is feverishly trying to drive a wedge between the Korea-U.S. alliance, and Russia is engaging in anti-American agitation based on the assumption that the leaked documents are true." He then criticized, "The problem is that our Democratic Party, like China and Russia, is engaging in reckless anti-American agitation, ignoring fact-checking and international conventions as if waiting for this moment."

Shin Won-sik, a member of the People Power Party, is attending the current issue inspection meeting held at the National Assembly on the 24th and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

He urged, "The Democratic Party, which blindly follows North Korea and China, should reflect on whether it is qualified to discuss patriotism and security," and called for "an end to the premeditated attempts to undermine the Korea-U.S. government ahead of the first state visit by a South Korean president in 12 years."

Regarding the presidential office relocation, he described it as "false agitation," explaining, "In the past, the crisis management office in the Blue House was semi-basement, but now it is located deep underground. The security facilities and systems have been built much more robustly compared to the past."

Earlier, the Democratic Party demanded a clear response from the presidential office and a thorough investigation into the wiretapping allegations.

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the floor strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said at the party's strategy meeting held at the National Assembly in the morning, "There is not a single intact sky or wall in Yongsan, yet they claim it is perfect, which is laughable," and questioned, "Why was the airspace around the presidential office penetrated by a North Korean drone, and now there are even suspicions of wiretapping by the U.S. Department of Defense?" He added, "The relevant standing committees should promptly convene to uncover the truth and establish countermeasures regarding the presidential office wiretapping allegations."

Park said, "As those responsible for state affairs, the first priority should be to apologize to the people, but instead, they were busy threatening with political attacks, saying 'those shaking the alliance will face public resistance,'" and criticized, "The government should properly explain to the public and actively protest to allied countries to rectify the situation."

This statement targeted the presidential office's remark that "The Democratic Party raised false negative suspicions that wiretapping occurred due to the presidential office relocation without intending to verify the truth. This is a self-harming act that shakes the Korea-U.S. alliance."