Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Cheong Wa Dae vows stern countermeasures on surveillance claims
Seen above is a screen capture of the Facebook page of Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs. Cho uploaded the photo on Sunday to show his strong willingness to continue fighting against the ongoing controversy surrounding a claim that Cheong Wa Dae ordered its officials to conduct illegal surveillance on civilians. / Screen capture from Facebook
By Lee Min-hyung
By Lee Min-hyung
Cheong Wa Dae has vowed to “sternly” deal with any unverified claims surrounding the widening allegations that the presidential house carried out illegal surveillance on citizens and politicians.
The controversy reached a climax last week when the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) unveiled the so-called “surveillance documents” allegedly written by Kim Tae-woo, a former special investigator from Cheong Wa Dae.
Kim recently returned to his original prosecution post for reportedly interfering with a police investigation related to his acquaintance.
Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, hinted Sunday that he would stand at the forefront to counter the ongoing allegations involving the presidential house.
“I will proceed even if I am attacked here and there,” Cho said in a Facebook post on Sunday. “I accepted the secretary post after much consideration. I may not be capable of taking on the role, but I will do my best.”
The statements were originally written in May last year when Cho accepted the post. But he appears to have reposted the statements to show his symbolic willingness to fight any rumors or allegations in the ongoing crisis involving the presidential house.
The main opposition party unveiled a photo showing a list of computer files that are seen as a move to secretly monitor affairs of incumbent and former ranking politicians as well as citizens.
With the scandal showing no signs of abating, presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom also expressed discomfort over the snowballing allegation.
In a media briefing last week, the spokesman underlined that the incumbent President Moon Jae-in administration has never ordered its officials to write such documents.
“Since taking office in May last year, President Moon prohibited the National Intelligence Service from collecting illegal information here, as part of efforts to reaffirm his strong willingness for any government bodies to stop conducting surveillance on civilians,” he said.
“But some media outlets are continuing to report on the allegation. This is not factual and goes against the underlying spirit of the Moon administration.” Cheong Wa Dae filed a lawsuit against Kim Tae-woo on suspicion of mishandling confidential information.
The main opposition party also continued stepping up criticism of the Moon Jae-in administration, urging the presidential house to “stop lying and take responsibility for the recent controversy.”
"Conducting surveillance and lying is in the DNA of the Moon administration,” Na Kyung-won, new floor leader of the party, said Sunday.
“It is high time a key person in charge of the latest scandal should come forward and apologize.”
She demanded high-ranking officials from Cheong Wa Dae visit the National Assembly to ascertain the truth behind the incident.
“Presidential Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok and Cho should open their mouths,” she said. “If they do not visit the Assembly to speak on the agenda, this is an act of deceit and arrogance against the public and the Assembly.”
Cheong Wa Dae has yet to respond to the demand from the opposition party.
Other opposition parties have also ramped up their call for the presidential house to replace Cho.
Minor opposition Bareunmirae Party Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu said the President should come up with measures to stop the recurrence of such controversies by tightening internal discipline.
“It is regrettable that Cheong Wa Dae engages in a truth game with Kim Tae-woo and opposition parties,” Sohn said. “But Cho, who is responsible for the latest incident, sparks up controversy on social media. The President needs to read the minds of the public by replacing the position.”