The written statement by Gong Un Yeong, the head of the former National Security Planning Agency's (NSPA) secret eavesdropping team known as "Mirim," reveals shocking information about the immorality of the government and NSPA employees at the time. It is horrifying to learn that Mirim engaged in indiscriminate eavesdropping of influential members of Korean society, of "everyone but the president." You just don't know what to say when you get to the part about how employees of the intelligence agency stole some of the recordings in order to "protect" themselves, and then attempted some shameless deals with those recordings.
Because of Gong's statement a basic sketch of the eavesdropping activities and the way the tapes were leaked has been revealed, but the work of seeking the truth behind all that happened has only begun. Questions such as how it was that the government of Kim Young Sam got Mirim started again, who was in charge, and how were the eavesdropping was used in manipulating politics remain mysteries. It that sense it is notable that the names of powerful influentials in that government are starting to be discussed publicly. There are open claims that president Kim Young Sam's son, Kim Hyeon Cheol, organized Mirim's comeback, and the names of former NSPA's anti-communist policy section director O Jeong So and former Cheong Wa Dae state affairs secretary Yi Won Jong have surfaced as well. The men themselves are jumping up and down claiming the were not involved, but given the map of power at the time those men can in no way be free of suspicion.
Key players in the government of Kim Dae Jung such as Culture and Tourism Minister Park Jie Won and National Intelligence Service (NIS) director Chun Yong Taek also smell suspicious. There especially needs to be clarification of why it was Chun learned of Gong's crimes but looked the other way. There are many suspicions, such as that he may have made a deal with Gong and the NIS and whether the tapes recovered really were incinerated.
The powerful players of those two former governments need to confess the whole truth about the questions. Doing so would be becoming of men who were once responsible for running the country. If they do not speak, making them speak will become the work of the prosecution.
The Hankyoreh, 28 July 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] Members of Previous Governments Must Tell All |
