New evidence suggests prosecutors aware of wider case in 2010


New evidence surfaced on Thursday suggesting that the surveillance scheme operated by the ethics division of the Prime Minister’s Office targeted more than 2,600 people.

While the controversy surrounding the ethics division’s surveillance scheme grew former presidential secretary for employment and labor Lee Young-ho did not appear for questioning, saying that he needed time to prepare, and that he will make himself available on April 2.

Lee, who has claimed that he is the “body” behind the cover-up attempt by Cheong Wa Dae officials had been summoned by the prosecutors’ office to appear for questioning at 10 a.m. Friday. The prosecutors’ office has issued a new summons for Saturday.

The latest evidence was revealed by a news program produced by striking members of the broadcaster KBS’ labor union. A number of cases specified in the documents were categories as “BH Ordered,” implicating a deeper involvement of the presidential office. “BH” is the acronym for “Blue House,” which is translation of Cheong Wa Dae.

According to the PMO, the revealed documents were submitted by the prosecutors’ office as evidence.

With the new evidence suggesting that the prosecutors investigating the case were aware of a much wider scheme, speculation has risen that the prosecutors’ office purposefully reduced the original investigations. In 2010, the prosecutors concluded that the PMO division illegally placed a businessman and a lawmaker under surveillance, and a number of PMO officials were also indicted for destroying evidence in an attempt to cover up the incident.

The investigations were reopened on March 17 after former PMO official Jang Jin-su disclosed that Cheong Wa Dae officials ordered the evidence to destroyed and that they had attempted to bribe him to remain silent. Jang was found guilty of destroying evidence.

The documents revealed Thursday showed that the ethics division had collected information about a large number of people ranging from high-level government officials and businessmen to labor union members and heads of media organizations.

With regards to news organizations’ management, the report had details about personal and professional characteristics.

Regarding YTN president Bae Seok-gyu the report said that his “loyalty to the current administration and the will for reforming YTN stands out,” while KBS president Kim In-kyu was described as being “overly confident and unreserved in words and deed.”

Other media-related documents included one titled “Report on direction of changing KBS, YTN, MBC executives.” The report was specified as “BH ordered” suggesting that the presidential office interfered in related issues.

The 2,619 people monitored by the PMO also include a businessman who had been in contact with Rep. Jeong Tae-keun, who had made his opposition to Rep. Lee Sang-deuk of Saenuri Party, and members of Seoul National University hospital’s labor union. Rep. Lee is President Lee Myung-bak’s elder brother, and the hospital’s labor union had produced posters with images parodying the president.

High-level government officials in the list include former Minister of National Defense Lee Sang-hee and former South Chungcheong Province Governor Lee Wan-koo. In addition, with the majority of them having resigned before the end of their terms, speculations that the government used the information in making human resources decisions have risen. The former Defense Minister was described as being extremely strong willed and “created discord with the National Intelligence Service.” He was replaced five months after the report was compiled.

The PMO’s ethics division also appears to have gathered extensive information about retired and serving police officers including National Police Agency Commissioner Cho Hyun-oh.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)