“Composed Situation Room by Former NIS Personnel… Smells of Manipulation”
Kim Min-seok, a top member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated on the 30th, “Just as the Acro Vista, the former residence of President Yoon Suk-yeol, was searched and seized, the Prime Minister’s Office should also be searched and seized.” He further remarked, “If Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting as President, gave any instructions or hints related to his election to his aides before resigning to run for the presidency, it would be subject to criminal punishment.”
Kim held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 30th, saying, “It is a national scandal for someone receiving national resources to embezzle state assets and betray the people by mobilizing public officials for personal use.”
He particularly noted, “A close aide to Acting President Han abruptly resigned just before appearing in the National Assembly. It is a reasonable inference for the entire nation to believe there was a demand from Han.” He emphasized, “The timing of the aides’ resignation, the sequence related to the actual election preparations, and the content of their activities are politically, morally, and legally critical issues to assess if they were planning an election campaign.”
Kim added, “Every aide who acted upon, or voluntarily engaged in, campaign-related planning or activities, after receiving such instructions or hints, has violated electoral laws.” This implies a breach of the Public Official Election Act, which prohibits government officials from engaging in election campaigning.
Furthermore, Kim stated, “I have credible information that the acting side composed and operated a situation room with personnel from the National Intelligence Service. The stench of manipulation is too strong,” adding, “I will be watching how the prosecution and the National Election Commission respond.”