Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won, who was subjected to a search and seizure at his home on the 24th over allegations of recruitment corruption during his tenure, declared his candidacy on the 25th, saying, "As of yesterday morning, I have firmly decided to enter politics."
On the same day, Park appeared on OhmyTV's "Sung Kyung-hwan Asks, Park Ji-won Answers," stating, "President Yoon Seok-yeol is pushing me to step into the political reality," expressing his decision.
He explained that he solidified his decision to run while undergoing police investigation the previous day. Park said, "I thought the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is pushing me out like that, so I have to go where they want me to go," adding, "(Yesterday's police investigation) definitely made my decision to run clear."
Although there had been rumors about his candidacy in Mokpo, Haenam-Wando-Jindo, Park had not revealed his decision to run. When asked by the host if he would run in Yeongdeungpo, he explained, "It is not Yeongdeungpo. One thing is clear: I am going into the political reality."
His firm decision to run appears to stem from resentment toward the excessive police investigation. Park said, "It seems that the National Intelligence Service requested the police investigation to commemorate the one year since I left the NIS. I employed two of my aides as research fellows at a research institute affiliated with the NIS, and that is considered wrong," adding, "Four police officers came, and they showed courtesy because my grandson has not yet started school, so they waited until my grandson went to school before explaining things to me."
At that time, the police reportedly seized only one of his mobile phones without confiscating other items. Park expressed his grievance, saying, "Except for one mobile phone, nothing was seized," and "They asked if it was the phone I used when I was the NIS director, and I said no, it was used afterward (but they took it). There was no need to take that either, actually."
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