South Korean opposition calls for investigation of Yoon’s wife over texts with spy chief

SEOUL – The Democratic Party of Korea on Feb 14 pressed for to be investigated over her possible role in the President’s martial law declaration.

The calls for an investigation into Ms Kim came after National Intelligence Service (NIS) director Cho Tae-yong on Feb 13 admitted to having received text messages from the First Lady the day before martial law was declared. Mr Cho said he does not remember what the First Lady said in the messages.

“No matter how you put it, there is no reason why Kim Keon Hee would be texting and communicating with the head of the spy service,” Representative Park Chan-dae, the Democratic Party’s floor leader, said at the party’s leadership meeting.

Mr Park said Ms Kim needed to be investigated to find out whether she was involved in the discussion and imposition of martial law.

Mr Park claimed the high-profile scandal surrounding a political broker who allegedly issued polls to give Mr Yoon – then a presidential candidate – an advantage over his rival may be a reason why Ms Kim might be seeking to turn the situation around through martial law.

Appearing as a witness at Mr Yoon’s impeachment hearing on Feb 13, Mr Cho also claimed Mr Hong Jang-won, former first deputy director of the NIS, was close to some Democratic Party lawmakers and asked for favours from them while he was still with the spy service.

Mr Hong was fired as the NIS’ deputy director after he apparently blew the whistle on Mr Cho, saying the spy chief was aware of the President’s plan to arrest politicians but did nothing. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK