Prosecution presents evidence of NIS special activity fund payments to Park Geun-hye’s Blue House

Posted on : 2018-01-10 16:54 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Between 50-200 million won per month were delivered between May 2014 and July 2016
A memo written by Choi Soon-sil recording payments to the so-called “Doorknob Triumvariate” of Jung Ho-seong
A memo written by Choi Soon-sil recording payments to the so-called “Doorknob Triumvariate” of Jung Ho-seong

Concrete evidence of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) providing “special activity fund” payments to the Blue House was presented on Jan. 9 in the trial of former Blue House secretaries Lee Jae-man and An Bong-geun.

Witnesses also testified that the payments were resumed at the Blue House’s request after being temporarily halted when the government interference scandal first broke, and that former President Park Geun-hye “appeared satisfied” with an additional payment of 200 million won (US$186,000).

During Lee and An’s trial on Jan. 9 before Judge Lee Young-hoon of the Seoul Central District Court’s 33rd criminal division, prosecutors revealed statements made by former National Intelligence Service planning and coordination office chief Lee Heon-su under their questioning. Lee Heon-soo served as “deliveryman” for the special activity funds.

According to his statement, Lee made packets of 100 bills in 50,000 won (US$46.50) units, placing two bundles of 50 million won (US$46,500) each in his bag for a total of 100 million won per month. Additional payments of 100 million won were provided for the 2015 Chuseok and 2016 Lunar New Year holidays, for a total of 200 million won. Lee subsequently met in secret with An near the Board of Audit of Inspection or Constitutional Court or on a side street by the Blue House’s Yeonmugwan Pavilion.

According to Lee’s statement, he traveled to the location in an NIS vehicle before joining An in his car to ride around the area, switching back to the NIS vehicle when An returned to the Blue House. He also explained that An “had no trouble with the Yeonmugwan side streets because not many members of the public use them.” The same approach was used to deliver 50 million to 200 million won a month in NIS special activity funds to the Blue House between May 2013 and July 2016.

The payments were temporarily halted when allegations of government interference first broke in July 2016, but resumed two months later. Lee recalled meeting with former Blue House secretary Jeong Ho-seong around Sept. 2016 to deliver 200 million won after An told him the President was “having a difficult time financially ahead of the Chuseok holiday.”

After the delivery, An called him to say that the “VIP [President]” was “very satisfied and inquired about whether the NIS was concerned about our situation.”

In contrast, An claimed the additional payment was the NIS’s idea, stating before prosecutors that the NIS had asked “what would be something we could do for the VIP for the holidays,” to which he replied that Park “could really use a monetary gift.” An also said the NIS had “given the 200 million won to buy the President’s favor.” Prosecutors plan to pursue additional indictments against An and Lee Jae-man this week on bribery charges in connection with the 200 million won.

Handwritten memo confirms involvement of Choi Soon-sil

A handwritten memo by Choi Soon-sil, 62, presented by prosecutors as evidence of her involvement in management of the special activity fund payments was found to have been temporarily entrusted to the prosecutors by her nephew Jang Si-ho. The memo includes abbreviated forms of the names of the three secretaries – listed as “Lee” (Lee Jae-man), “An” (An Bong-geun), and “J” (Jeong Ho-seong) – along with dates and amounts. Prosecutors believed that Choi was writing the particulars of NIS tribute payments given to the three by Park as “incentives.” Jeong previously stated before prosecutors that the “amount received from President Park is what was written in Ms. Choi’s memo.”

“I’m not sure how Ms. Choi knew, but it was quite disturbing,” Jeong said in his statement. The handwriting on the memo was also reportedly confirmed to match Choi’s script when revising presidential speech text.

Evidence of Lee passing NIS funds individually to An was also provided. Questioning by prosecutors received that An received 13.5 million won (US$12,600) in bribes from Lee Heon-soo through eight separate payments between May 2013 and Feb. 2015. Under questioning, Lee said it was intended to ask him to “put in a good word for the President to take an interest in NIS operations and to help out with possible [personal] disadvantages if the security and intelligence bureau hears something bad.”

“Cautious about giving an amount that might cause problems”

On the reason for the payments amount to between 500,000 won and 3 million won (US$470–2,790) at a time, Lee said, “We were cautious about giving an amount that might cause problems and thought those amounts would be adequate.”

Prosecutors also shared Lee’s claim to have submitted a letter of resignation once, only to return to his post after Park refused it, and to have provide bribe money to An because of the experience.

Testifying in court the same day, An said he “thought they were giving us food and spending money” and “never considered at the time that it was public funds.”

By Hyun So-eun, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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