On the 7th, the ruling and opposition parties clashed head-on over the Board of Audit and Inspection's findings that the government neglected the situation during the 2020 'West Sea Public Official Killing (Shooting) Incident' and subsequently concealed and distorted the facts.
The People Power Party claimed that the audit results revealed a "nationwide deception orchestrated meticulously at the regime level." Senior Spokesperson Park Jeong-ha stated in a commentary, "The truth of that day, which was attempted to be concealed, is gradually coming to light," adding, "The audit results show that the Moon Jae-in administration neglected the situation at the time and concealed and distorted related facts after the incident."
This audit result finalizes the interim audit content announced in mid-October last year, and the original report was not disclosed for national security reasons.
Senior Spokesperson Park further criticized, "Ultimately, the substantive truth is nothing less than a 'nationwide deception' meticulously manipulated under the regime's leadership, involving neglect by state agencies, omission and deletion of reports, distortion of analysis results of various evidence, selective use of evidence, organized concealment attempts, and fabrication of grounds for defection to the North."
He also emphasized strict punishment for those involved. Park said, "Trials are underway following prosecution requests for 20 individuals, including former National Security Office Chief Seo Hoon, former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won, and former Minister of National Defense Seo Wook," adding, "Those responsible for attempting to conceal the incident of that day must pay a severe price. The truth must be uncovered through an investigation without sanctuary."
On the other hand, Han Min-su, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized in a written briefing on the same day, "They turned a blind eye to all facts and completed a predetermined audit with a 'forced conclusion,'" questioning, "Are they trying to restart the 'North Korea scare tactics' that conservative regimes have carried out during every general election?"
Spokesperson Han said, "There is only the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's will to put former government officials on trial at all costs without any change in factual circumstances, and the Board of Audit and Inspection faithfully carrying this out," adding, "The public will see the Board of Audit and Inspection as a commissioned investigative agency."
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