Police Summon Former NIS Director Park Ji-won on 'Recruitment Corruption Charges'... "Coordinating Attendance Date"

Investigation of Downtown Area Rally... "Continued Attendance Requests Underway"
Reviewing Detention of 4 Members of Shindaebang Fam

The police have decided to summon former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Park Ji-won, who is suspected of recruitment irregularities, for questioning and are coordinating his attendance schedule.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

A Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency official stated at a regular press briefing on the 19th, "After conducting a search and seizure on two suspects, we investigated former NIS Director Seo Hoon on the 10th," adding, "We are also coordinating the attendance date for former Director Park." However, the official added that there are no plans for additional summonses for former Director Seo.

Former Directors Park and Seo are suspected of hiring a specific individual at the National Security Strategy Institute (NSS), a research institute under the NIS. In response, the police conducted a search and seizure on the NIS headquarters, including the Director’s Secretariat and the Planning and Coordination Office, on the 24th of last month.

Regarding the investigation into the two-day, one-night downtown rally organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), the official said, "On the 9th, the Namdaemun Police Station conducted a search and seizure of the union office related to the illegal rally on the 16th of last month, and we have requested the attendance of two individuals, including the construction union chairman, by the 22nd." He continued, "Regarding the illegal rally in front of the Employment and Labor Office on the 17th of last month, the Jungbu Police Station has investigated nine people so far, and attendance requests are ongoing for the remaining suspects."

Concerning allegations of embezzlement of subsidies related to the salt support project for North Korea by the National Council for Reconciliation and Cooperation (Minhwahyeop), the official said, "On the 12th, search warrants were executed on those involved in the project, and we are currently analyzing the seized items."

Regarding the personal information leak allegations involving Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, the official stated, "Searches were conducted at related locations until the 5th, and once the analysis of the seized items is complete, additional investigations of the related parties will be conducted."

The Seoul Police official also addressed allegations of business suspension at a Korean medicine hospital in Gangnam, saying, "The Gangnam Police Station conducted victim interviews, imposed travel bans on suspects, and carried out a search and seizure at the hospital," adding, "We will promptly analyze the seized items and conduct victim interviews."

Regarding the sexual exploitation allegations against the Shindaebang gang, the official said, "We are reviewing the detention of four related individuals," but added, "It is difficult to provide specific details about the sexual exploitation charges."