NIS Reported Scandal to the Blue House Last Year

It is known on April 12 that former second deputy director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who is arrested and in jail now, had reported suspicious irregularities of the CEO of the Future City Environment Inc., Choi Kyu-Sun (42 years old), and the third son of President Kim Dae-Jung, Hong-Gul, to the Blue House and severely upbraided for its report.

A close associate of former deputy director Kim disclosed today, `Deputy director Kim collected some information related with Hong-Gul and reported it to the Blue House sometimes last year, but severely reprimanded for it.`

The associate said, `As the rumors spread out that Hong-Gul involved in various influence peddling and took some cash for it, deputy director Kim reported the rumor to the Blue House,` and added, `Deputy director Kim took criticism for it even though his intention was to prevent any problem that might arise out of the rumor.`

Former secretary of Mr. Choi, Cheon Ho-Young, who filed a complaint against Mr. Choi for violation of the Attorneys-at-Law Act, also said during a recent meeting with reporters, `Mr. Choi worried once in the office that deputy director of the NIS, Kim Eun-Seung, investigated him and reported it to the Blue House.`

According to Mr. Cheon, Mr. Choi called a close police officer to say, `Deputy director Kim seems intent on destroying me, what can I do, please help me.`

Additionally an associate of Hong-Gul also said today, `As the NIS obtained information that Mr. Choi was trying his hands on weapons procurement deals, deputy director Kim warned Mr. Choi to back off.`

The associate said, `At that time, deputy director Kim warned in pleading tone that Mr. Choi should back off from weapons procurement since problems might arise inevitably when the regime changes.`

He also relayed, `Deputy director Kim had to make his position clear to the Blue House and others since Hong-Gul who was in the U.S. called deputy director Kim and protested to him about his alleged slandering activities.`

Soo-Hyung Lee sooh@donga.com · Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com