The investigators probing the Cheong Wa Dae document leak are concentrating on determining police Superintendent Park Gwan-cheon’s motives as they wrap up their weekslong probe.
The case kicked off late last month following a news report that claimed President Park Geun-hye’s former aide Chung Yoon-hoi was meddling in state affairs. The article, which cited intelligence reports compiled within Cheong Wa Dae, set off a criminal investigation and brought the National Assembly to a grinding halt.
The investigators believe that Park Gwan-cheon drew up both the Chung Yoon-hoi and Park Ji-man documents using fabricated or unverified information.
The Chung Yoon-hoi document outlined Chung’s alleged interference in state affairs, and the latter claimed that Chung and Park Ji-man, the president’s brother, were engaged in a power struggle.
Although the investigators appear certain that the scandal was ignited by false reports compiled by Park Gwan-cheon, they have yet to determine his motives.
One possible scenario the investigators are said to be considering is that he did so as part of an elaborate plot to ensure that he remained at the Cheong Wa Dae assignment. The report was compiled at about the same time as Park Gwan-cheon’s reassignment earlier this year.
In addition, the prosecution is said to have obtained evidence that Park Gwan-cheon carefully collected information used to fabricate the document regarding Park Ji-man. According to the prosecution, the individuals Park Gwan-cheon identified as his informants denied involvement in compiling the documents.
The prosecution, however, has not ruled out the possibility that Park Gwan-cheon acted under orders. Figures under the prosecution’s scrutiny include former presidential secretary Cho Eung-cheon. While serving in the presidential office, Cho was Park Gwan-cheon’s direct superior, and he is reported to have clashed with a number of presidential staff, including Lee Jae-man, the presidential administrative secretary.
Lee was among those who supposedly formed a secret group with Chung to meddle in state affairs, according to Park Gwan-cheon’s intelligence report.
In addition, an internal audit conducted by the presidential office determined that Cho was deeply involved in compiling the documents and then leaking them to the media. The results of the audit itself, however, have been brought into question, with a Cheong Wa Dae official claiming that his superiors attempted to force him to sign an account that falsely placed the blame on Cho.
By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)
