Rumors about power struggle abound

By Kang Seung-woo

What was behind the leak of an internal Cheong Wa Dae document earlier this year?

Was it an act of revenge by a senior police officer once assigned to the presidential office then ordered back to a local station after a period of months? Now away from the corridors of power, the chief superintendent denies that he had anything to do with the leak.

Then, what occurred? Speculation continues to grow. One theory centers on a power struggle between two camps surrounding Park.

One scenario has it that one camp, when pressed into a corner, opted for extreme measures.

Since the Park administration took office in February 2013, Park Ji-man, the president’s younger brother, has allegedly engaged in a power struggle with Jeong Yun-hoe, a former senior aide to the President when she was a member of the National Assembly, to gain a bigger say in state affairs.

Although those cited on both sides deny any such involvement, the rumors persist.

However, a Korean language daily, the Segye Ilbo claimed in an article published Friday that Jeong regularly met with 10 Cheong Wa Dae officials, including three of Park’s closest secretaries, and discussed state affairs along with events inside the presidential office.

The newspaper said that it had obtained an internal report, prepared on Jan. 6 by a former member of Cheong Wa Dae staff, surnamed Park.

Park Ji-man is said to be close to a former senior presidential secretary Cho Eung-chon, who allegedly ordered the internal document to be created.

Their relationship dates back to when Cho was a prosecutor in charge of a drug trial against Park in 1994.

A former Cheong Wa Dae official, identified by Park, is questioned by reporters near his home in Seoul, Monday. He is under suspicion of leaking an internal document of the presidential office saying Jeong Yun-hoe, President Park Geun-hye’s former aide, meddled in state affairs. / Yonhap

However, the two secretaries were replaced earlier this year, raising speculation that they were expelled after Jeong and a number of the President’s closest advisers ― Lee Jae-man, secretary for administrative affairs; and Jeong Ho-sung and An Bong-geun, two personnel secretaries ― prevailed, although Cheong Wa Dae said Cho wanted to move to a new post outside the presidential office and this was respected. .

A weekly political magazine reported in March that Jeong Yun-hoe’s camp had monitored the activities of the president’s brother.

“After finding the tailing, Park Ji-man told the fact to Cho, who later ordered the internal document about Jeong,” it reported.

Jeong denied the allegations in this report and is suing the magazine for 200 million won in damages.

However, the Segye Ilbo report has further fuelled speculation that Park Ji-man’s rulers has kept a close watch on Jeong in order to take a shot at him if the opportunity arose.

In addition, the “unexpected” replacement of the Defense Security Command (DSC) commander in October was also said to be another consequence of their fight.

DSC chief Lt. Gen. Lee Jae-soo is close to Park Ji-man, having attended the Korea Military Academy with him.

Jeong rebutted all the speculative reports.

“If I did anything wrong, I will go to jail,” he told the JoongAng Ilbo, another vernacular newspaper.

President Park also apparently thinks that there is no power struggle inside her office.

“I think it is a problem for the media to suggest there were suspicions by reporting perceived events as if there were an unofficial line or a powerful figure behind the scenes without checking with the people involved,” said the President at a meeting with senior presidential secretaries.