Colonel Park Jeong-hoon, "private return" on suspicion of counterintelligence cover-up of 'Chae Sang-byeong incident'

Regarding the fact that the counterintelligence command attempted to cover up the 'VIP fury theory' during the 'Chae Sang-byeong incident' in 2023 in a recent comprehensive special prosecutor's investigation, Park Jeong-hoon, head of the Ministry of National Defense Investigation Headquarters (Brigadier General), said, "Although it is slow, I think it is a private return."

Director Park attended the general meeting of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee of the National Assembly on this day, and when asked by Rep. Kim Dong-ah of the Democratic Party of Korea what do you think about the fact that the circumstances of the systematic cover-up of the counterintelligence agency were revealed through the special prosecutor's investigation, he said, "I learned about it through this media report."

Director Park said, “I said it was clear from the beginning that I heard the president’s anger from then-Marine Corps Commandant General Kim Gye-hwan,” and added, “I was not aware of the cover-up after I was excluded from my duties.”

Regarding the fact that the counterintelligence agency at the time had even inspected his mother was revealed during the investigation, he said, "It was clearly an illegal act. That is why the Ministry of National Defense disbanded the counterintelligence agency and prevented illegal acts from happening again."

He added, “It took three years, but I have hope that everything is being put right and justly put right,” adding, “I hope that everything will be sorted out well until the end.”

Director Park, who was the head of the Marine Corps investigation team at the time of the Chae Sang-byeong incident, was the first person to report suspicions of external pressure and cover-up of the incident, such as exposing former President Yoon Seok-yeol's 'VIP outrage theory'. During the Lee Jae-myung administration, he received the National Defense Service Medal (Three Days Medal) for his contribution to 'protecting constitutional values' and was promoted to brigadier general.