Park's brother embroiled in influence-peddling allegations
By Yi Whan-woo
Park Ji-man
Speculation is rife that Park Geun-hye’s younger brother Park Ji-man wielded a great deal of influence and sometimes clashed with the President’s confidant Jeong Yun-hoe.
In an interview with the Hankook Ilbo on Thursday, former Defense Security Command (DSC) chief Jang Kyung-wook claimed he was “victimized” by Park Ji-man’s camp within the military.
“There are still a number of Park Ji-man’s confidants in the military, and they’re politicizing military affairs,” Jang said
He cited an unexpected reshuffle of top military officers in October 2013. Jang, then a major general who served as the DSC commander, was removed from his post after six months and replaced with then Lt. Gen. Lee Jae-soo.
Lee and Park Ji-man attended the Korea Military Academy at the same time.
Jang claimed Park Ji-man was behind his replacement because he monitored Lee’s activities, which he said was “part of DSC chief’s routine jobs.”
The speculation over the alleged power struggle between Jeong and Park Ji-man on military intelligence affairs was raised because Lee was also sacked in October.
According to Cheong Wa Dae’s internal memoranda, Jeong regularly received briefings from 10 presidential secretaries about goings-on in government, starting last year.
Jang said, “I can’t confirm whether Jeong orchestrated a move against Lee.”
However, Rep. Shin Kyoung-min of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), on Wednesday speculated that there may be a struggle between Jeong and Park Ji-man within the spy agency.
He noted that a director-level official at the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was replaced after offering tips to former presidential secretary Cho Eung-chun, who allegedly ordered that the internal document be created in January. Cho has had close ties with Park Ji-man since 1994 when Cho was a prosecutor in charge of a drug trial against Park.
“The director was believed to be in a standoff with his NIS colleagues who were close to Jeong,” the lawmaker said.
An anonymous source at the prosecution said Wednesday that Park Ji-man sought legal advice from Cho regarding the investigation into the alleged power struggle between him and Jeong.
Based on a weekly magazine report in March, the prosecution was looking into a rumor that Jeong’s camp had monitored Park Ji-man’s activities.
Cho then quit his job at the presidential office in April.
The office said Cho wanted to move to a new post outside the presidential office and that his wish was respected. But speculation remains that he was forced to leave by Jeong’s aide at Cheong Wa Dae.