Park Ji-won: "'Making money and succeeding is not theft' remark was not directed at Kim Nam-guk"

Apology on YTN Radio... "That Was Not the Intention"
"If the Prosecutors Investigate, We Must Leave It to Them"

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won advised Kim Nam-guk, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who is surrounded by allegations of tens of billions in cryptocurrency, saying, "If the prosecution decides to investigate, it is best to leave it to them." He also apologized, stating that his remark on a radio program the previous day, "You gain success and make money, this is theft," was not directed at Kim.

On the 12th, on YTN's 'News King Park Ji-hoon,' former Director Park said, "Kim, do not say anything more. It is most necessary to actively cooperate with the fact-finding committee and the prosecution investigation, and to confess the truth without trying to hide anything."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the previous day’s CBS radio, he advised Kim to donate the money earned from cryptocurrency, saying, "Donate. That is the attitude of a member of the National Assembly. You gain success and make money, this is theft." This was interpreted as directed at Kim, leading many media outlets to publish articles with this implication, but former Director Park stated that it was not aimed at Kim.

Former Director Park said, "I am very close to Kim and have played a significant mentor role for him. However, this is something I always say to juniors on broadcasts. 'Either succeed or make money, but if you do both, you are a thief.'" He added, "The article content was not that, but it was presented as if it was directed at Kim. I want to clarify the facts here and apologize to Kim for the misunderstanding that it was not meant in that way."

Two search warrants for Kim were dismissed, but since the charges listed in the warrants included violations of the Political Funds Act, voices suspecting a connection to 'presidential election funds' have emerged. In response to related questions from the host, former Director Park said, "That is not the case," and added, "Anyway, this is a strange gray area that is neither illegal nor legal. The prosecution might have applied the Political Funds Act due to lack of law, but I heard his explanation is 'No'."

He said, "Again, I emphasize that whenever Kim explains, more issues arise. Therefore, if there is a fact-finding committee within the party and a prosecution investigation, he should actively cooperate truthfully. If the party’s fact-finding committee tells him to sell the cryptocurrency and there is profit, it would be good to return it to society, such as donating to the underprivileged."

The ruling party is raising voices for 'resignation' and 'expulsion' amid the tens of billions cryptocurrency allegations surrounding Kim. However, former Director Park said, "That is a bit hasty. Not yet." This is interpreted as meaning that more specific details need to be revealed before discussing measures against Kim.