Ex-Presidential aide gets 18-months for leaking classified gov't documents

By Lee Kyung-min

A district court sentenced former presidential secretary Jeong Ho-seong to 18 months in prison, Wednesday, for passing classified Cheong Wa Dae documents to Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of former President Park Geun-hye. Choi was the central figure in the corruption scandal that removed Park from office.

The Seoul Central District Court convicted Jeong, recognizing that his act resulted in Choi’s deep and continued involvement in state affairs.

“Jeong gave the highly classified government documents to Choi, an unauthorized individual, many times over a long period of time,” the court said in its ruling.

“This undermined public trust in the government and public officials, and ended up providing cause for the influence-peddling scandal to continue. It also resulted in the disappointment of the public.”

The court also recognized that Jeong conspired with Park in wide-ranging illicit activities.

“Jeong admitted that Park gave explicit and implicit orders, and Park was aware that the documents were being delivered to Choi. Jeong and Park shared a mutual understanding and exchanged communication on the matter.”

The prosecution earlier sought a prison term for Jeong of 30 months.

Jeong admitted to delivering the documents to Choi in person, but said he did not think it was out of bounds.

During an earlier hearing, Jeong denied he conspired with Park, but said that he was sorry that he made a mistake in what he thought was a necessary process to better support and aid her.

“I admit that I did try too hard in my efforts to aid Park, but I do not think what I did was wrong,” he said.

Jeong was indicted in November last year for handing over some 180 documents containing information on personnel management of high-ranking public officials including prosecutor general, heads of National Tax Service and National Intelligence Service.

The documents also contained Park’s speech materials for Cabinet meetings, information on diplomatic affairs and politically sensitive matters only presidential secretaries had access to.

While the court had planned to deliver a ruling on Park, but her trial was put on hold after her defense attorneys all resigned last month in protest of the court issuing a second arrest warrant for her. Park was assigned public defenders and they are preparing for the hearing.