Ilsimhoe Documents Involve Political Figures

It was revealed on November 27 that the documents the National Intelligence Service (NIS) confiscated at the home of Jang Man-ho (Michael Jang, 44, arrested), a leader of the Ilsimhoe incident that involved several former “386 student movement” personnel, included the names of three or four political figures as well as the Cheong Wa Dae secretary.

The NIS forwarded the five arrested people, including Jang, and the investigation reports to the Supreme Public Prosecutor’s Office, and is separately investigating the political figures’ involvement.

A source said, “A large number of the documents that the NIS confiscated at Jang’s house were not handed over but are being kept for further analysis.”

Because the arrested people were alumni or former student movement colleagues, the authorities are ascertaining whether Jang actually contacted these people and are organizing the information to examine whether they were sent to North Korea.

Authorities believe that Jang and the others won over those who were close to Cheong Wa Dae, the Uri Party, and the Democratic Labor Party personnel, and influenced or blackmailed them in the long run for information.

Meanwhile, the secretary whose name appeared in Jang’s North Korea reports said, “Sohn Jeong-mok (42, arrested) and I are college alumni and go way back. I saw Sohn at a college reunion, and we never spoke of any classified information.”

He added, “Except for that meeting, I’ve never sought out Sohn for 10 years.”

woogija@donga.com