Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
DUP gears up offensive on intelligence agency
By Jung Min-ho
The Democratic United Party (DUP) upped the ante against the National Intelligence Service (NIS) Thursday by saying it has confirmed more than one of the security agency’s staff were involved in systematically denouncing the party’s presidential candidate Moon Jae-in.
“Regarding the nature of the organization and what they do, we thought that revealing all the information would seriously hinder their operations afterwards. That’s why we are calling for the woman to be the subject of an investigation,” DUP spokesman Woo Sang-ho said. “Details of this case should be reported to the public after a thorough investigation. We don’t have time. We are again urging the NIS to conduct an internal investigation.”
The statement came a day after the DUP filed a complaint against NIS for allegedly ordering its agent, only identified by her surname Kim, to post negative perspectives of Moon online during the critical final period before the Dec. 19 election.
Moon visited the DUP’s headquarters Thursday and said, “If confirmed as true, it is a grave incident that could shatter the bedrock of the nation’s democracy.”
“It is an action by a national organization that could sway public opinion before the election,” Moon added. “However, considering that all the factual information isn’t confirmed yet, it is premature to make a conclusive statement.”
Meanwhile, Kim lodged an official complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and gave them her computer, now the focus of the investigation.
“The investigation time differs depending on the computers’ capacity. We will finish the work as soon as possible,” police said.
The NIS’s reaction is less than welcoming.
“The DUP is attacking the NIS that maintains a politically neutral stance. We are going to ask for the person behind this issue to be held accountable for it and we are considering legal action against the DUP’s accusations,” the NIS said in a press release Thursday.
The ruling Saenuri Party criticized the liberal party for “raiding the 28-year-old lady’s place” without sufficient evidence.
Rep. Shim Jae-chul of the Saenuri Party said, “The DUP’s negative campaigning is reaching a fever pitch because the signs of defeat are palpable.”
Kim Moo-sung, head of the Saenuri Party’s election strategy office, slammed the DUP for “trampling over human rights” and said their malicious propaganda and smear campaign will continue to happen because “that’s who they are.”
After investigating the evidence provided, the police are expected to summon Kim within a week for further questioning.