By Yi Whan-woo
Jeong Yun-hoe has been in the center of scandals that involve President Park Geun-hye since she took helm of the country's most powerful office in February 2013.
Jeong, 59, is suspected of having a secret connection with a group of 10 presidential secretaries and meddling into state affairs since October last year, according to internal memoranda compiled by by Cheong Wa Dae in January.
Jeong also allegedly tried to mastermind a plot to oust presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon who has been criticized for wielding excessive power.
In August, he appeared in a report by Japan's conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper as the person who had a meeting with Park during an alleged seven-hour absence at the start of the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16.
The report by Tatsuya Kato, Sankei's then Seoul correspondent, infuriated Cheong Wa Dae, which deemed the story was a blasphemy for the unmarried female President. Kato is currently undergoing a court trial following the accusation of the prosecution, regarding which Cheong Wa Dae was believed to be behind.
In a media interview, Sunday, Jeong turned down any speculation that he allegedly has ties with Park even after quitting his job as Park's aide in 2007 when she was a lawmaker.
He said he stayed away from politics since then, adding "those who make false claims about me should be held accountable."
"I ask the prosecution to investigation every detail about me and I'm willing to go to prison if I'm found with any wrongdoings," he said. "However, if I'm proven innocent, those who slandered me should take responsibility for their acts."
Jeong Yun-hoe has been in the center of scandals that involve President Park Geun-hye since she took helm of the country's most powerful office in February 2013.
Jeong, 59, is suspected of having a secret connection with a group of 10 presidential secretaries and meddling into state affairs since October last year, according to internal memoranda compiled by by Cheong Wa Dae in January.
Jeong also allegedly tried to mastermind a plot to oust presidential chief of staff Kim Ki-choon who has been criticized for wielding excessive power.
In August, he appeared in a report by Japan's conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper as the person who had a meeting with Park during an alleged seven-hour absence at the start of the Sewol ferry disaster on April 16.
The report by Tatsuya Kato, Sankei's then Seoul correspondent, infuriated Cheong Wa Dae, which deemed the story was a blasphemy for the unmarried female President. Kato is currently undergoing a court trial following the accusation of the prosecution, regarding which Cheong Wa Dae was believed to be behind.
In a media interview, Sunday, Jeong turned down any speculation that he allegedly has ties with Park even after quitting his job as Park's aide in 2007 when she was a lawmaker.
He said he stayed away from politics since then, adding "those who make false claims about me should be held accountable."
"I ask the prosecution to investigation every detail about me and I'm willing to go to prison if I'm found with any wrongdoings," he said. "However, if I'm proven innocent, those who slandered me should take responsibility for their acts."
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