By Kim Rahn
Former President Lee Myung-bak may face investigation for possible involvement in the spy agency's election-meddling scandal in 2012.
New evidence submitted Monday at the trial of former National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Won Sei-hoon pointed to the spy agency's active attempts to intervene in politics and elections and to control the media. Critics say such activity would have been impossible without orders from former President Lee.
Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called for an investigation into Lee, saying that the evidence indicated that the NIS carried out political maneuvering under his administration. He said that such activities were a clear violation of the Election Law and the law on the NIS which requires the agency to stay politically neutral.
"The NIS is a key organization that receives and follows the president's orders," Hong said. "The prosecution should investigate what secret directions and agreements were made between Lee and Won, whether Lee was aware of the spy agency's political meddling, and exactly what role Lee played in the scandal. It is not an issue that should end by accusing only Won."
Hong also said the intelligence agency intervened in the 2012 presidential election in various ways, such as by fabricating public opinion on social networking channels while operating a unit in charge of posting favorable online comments about then ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye and critical ones about then opposition party candidate Moon Jae-in.
The evidence also showed that the NIS was involved in financially supporting pro-government conservative civic group rallies, and that Won ordered his subordinates to prevent the media from making reports critical of the government or to work to shut down such media outlets.
"It was confirmed that Won was aware of those activities," Hong said. "The Lee government was carrying out political and press manipulation. The prosecution sought a four-year prison term and four-year disqualification for Won, but these are not enough."
Regarding the controversy, newly appointed Prosecutor-General Mun Moo-il said during his confirmation hearing Monday that he would investigate related allegations.
It was recently alleged that prosecutors obtained some 700 NIS documents delivered to Cheong Wa Dae in 2012, and that the documents showed the spy agency meddled in politics and the election. But the prosecution returned the documents to Cheong Wa Dae in 2014 without investigating them or using them in trials for Won and others involved.
As Rep. Back Hye-ryun of the DPK said the Lee administration had the NIS intervene in politics and the Park administration knowingly ignored it, Mun said he would thoroughly probe the allegations. He was officially appointed Tuesday.
But Rep. Hong Moon-pyo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, to which Lee and Park belonged, raised questions about "political retaliation" regarding the timing of the disclosure of the new evidence.
"It raises political suspicions why what happened under the Lee administration is being disclosed after the new government was launched," he said in a radio interview. "(If the situation is targeting Lee,) it is setting the clock back, which is wrong."
.jpg/dims/resize/740/optimize) |
| Former President Lee Myung-bak |
New evidence submitted Monday at the trial of former National Intelligence Service (NIS) chief Won Sei-hoon pointed to the spy agency's active attempts to intervene in politics and elections and to control the media. Critics say such activity would have been impossible without orders from former President Lee.
Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called for an investigation into Lee, saying that the evidence indicated that the NIS carried out political maneuvering under his administration. He said that such activities were a clear violation of the Election Law and the law on the NIS which requires the agency to stay politically neutral.
"The NIS is a key organization that receives and follows the president's orders," Hong said. "The prosecution should investigate what secret directions and agreements were made between Lee and Won, whether Lee was aware of the spy agency's political meddling, and exactly what role Lee played in the scandal. It is not an issue that should end by accusing only Won."
Hong also said the intelligence agency intervened in the 2012 presidential election in various ways, such as by fabricating public opinion on social networking channels while operating a unit in charge of posting favorable online comments about then ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye and critical ones about then opposition party candidate Moon Jae-in.
.jpg) |
| Former National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon |
"It was confirmed that Won was aware of those activities," Hong said. "The Lee government was carrying out political and press manipulation. The prosecution sought a four-year prison term and four-year disqualification for Won, but these are not enough."
Regarding the controversy, newly appointed Prosecutor-General Mun Moo-il said during his confirmation hearing Monday that he would investigate related allegations.
It was recently alleged that prosecutors obtained some 700 NIS documents delivered to Cheong Wa Dae in 2012, and that the documents showed the spy agency meddled in politics and the election. But the prosecution returned the documents to Cheong Wa Dae in 2014 without investigating them or using them in trials for Won and others involved.
As Rep. Back Hye-ryun of the DPK said the Lee administration had the NIS intervene in politics and the Park administration knowingly ignored it, Mun said he would thoroughly probe the allegations. He was officially appointed Tuesday.
But Rep. Hong Moon-pyo of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, to which Lee and Park belonged, raised questions about "political retaliation" regarding the timing of the disclosure of the new evidence.
"It raises political suspicions why what happened under the Lee administration is being disclosed after the new government was launched," he said in a radio interview. "(If the situation is targeting Lee,) it is setting the clock back, which is wrong."
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