Rep. Park Jie-won: "Hold Military Talks With North Korea Over DMZ Incident; 'The Assassin(s)' Has High Artistic Merit"

- Kim Ji-yong is qualified… Time to decide party platform through a general meeting of lawmakers
- Confirmation hearing scrutiny is essential, but appointing the Major Crimes Investigation Agency chief is urgent
- Choo Mi-ae should search for 'great spots' in Gyeonggi Province… Focus on succeeding as governor
- Lee's reform remarks? Principled statements… Should exercise a bit more restraint on social media
- Cho Hee-dae refusing to testify at parliamentary audit? Does he consider himself pop king Cho Yong-pil?
- Aiming to boost profile for the presidency… Must be grilled even if appearing as an institutional witness
- DMZ landmine incident? Let's resolve it by holding military talks with North Korea
- Financial sector hack could also involve North Korea… Need to prepare for cyber warfare
- 'The Assassin(s)': movies should be seen as movies… A work of outstanding cinematic quality
- With parliamentary audits about to start, is it right for the People Power Party to take to the streets instead?
 
■ Broadcast: SBS Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show (FM 103.5 MHz, 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
■ Date: Monday, October 5, 2026
■ Host: Attorney Kim Tae-hyun
■ Guest: Rep. Park Jie-won, Democratic Party of Korea
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] We meet him every other week. Today, we are joined over the phone by a veteran of politics, Democratic Party Representative Park Jie-won. Representative, hello.
 
[Park Jie-won] Hello. I am taking this call from Haenam.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Since today is a holiday, you are still in Haenam?
 
[Park Jie-won] That's right. This marks my 130th time returning home for the weekend, but this time, instead of the usual Friday-to-Monday routine, I came down on Thursday and will head back up to Seoul on Tuesday.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Coming on Thursday and returning Tuesday.
 
[Park Jie-won] Yes, coming down on Thursday and heading up on Tuesday.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Over this weekend, what did your local constituents say to you the most?
 
[Park Jie-won] "Protect President Lee Jae-myung well."
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Protect him?
 
[Park Jie-won] Yes. They were quite angry, saying, as author Hwang Sok-yong put it, what has President Lee Jae-myung done wrong? He restored democracy and developed the economy, so why are people behaving like that? They told me to stand firmly by his side and protect him.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] It sounds like the local constituents are quite uncomfortable with moves by certain ruling party lawmakers who seem to be going against the president right now. One of the first flashpoints is Kim Ji-yong, the nominee to head the Major Crimes Investigation Agency.
 
[Park Jie-won] That's correct.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] The confirmation hearing process has now begun. You consider him a qualified candidate, correct?
 
[Park Jie-won] He is a qualified candidate. Looking at Democratic Party Representative Kim Ki-pyo's Facebook post from our Legislation and Judiciary Committee and what many others have pointed out, back when Choo Mi-ae was justice minister, pro-Yoon prosecutors were lining up, but he bypassed that and became a chief prosecutor, which proves he was actually anti-Yoon. So regarding the issue of Chief Prosecutor Kim Ji-yong, I have also engaged in dialogue and tried to persuade many lawmakers. Since those colleagues have also stated that they will follow the party platform once decided, I think we should convene a general meeting of lawmakers now, hold an unlimited debate, and make a decision. We must not keep putting it off from one day to the next.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Then, just as you wrote on Facebook, saying, "Should I bring down a toy hammer on the lawmakers expressing opposition?" you are suggesting having an open debate and determining the party platform by a vote.
 
[Park Jie-won] That's right.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So you mean we should set the party platform before the confirmation hearing even starts?
 
[Park Jie-won] We can gauge the pros and cons, can't we?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Why do you think we need to go that far?
 
[Park Jie-won] Even conservative media editorials are writing that there is public fatigue because the chief of the Major Crimes Investigation Agency hasn't been appointed quickly, causing confusion within the government. Therefore, we cannot leave the agency's top post vacant any longer. Since there is ongoing talk about whether nominee Kim Ji-yong was pro-Yoon or not, we need to settle this matter.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] But right now, Democratic Party members on the Public Administration and Security Committee—such as Representatives Youn Kun-young and Park Ju-min—are signaling an even more rigorous vetting process than opposition lawmakers.
 
[Park Jie-won] It is true that there must be thorough vetting at a confirmation hearing. However, when I talk to members of the Public Administration and Security Committee, those two do hold that view, but if everyone talks it through at the general meeting of lawmakers, won't they be persuaded?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] You mean regarding whether this nominee was a pro-Yoon prosecutor or not?
 
[Park Jie-won] Well, there are testimonies from multiple people, so I don't believe he was pro-Yoon. Besides, back then, if he called for the arrest of Yoon Suk-yeol's mother-in-law, Kim Keon-hee's mother, isn't that what a genuine prosecutor does? From the Japanese colonial period to this day, has anyone ever regarded police or prosecutors as purely good people? If you examine each case individually, everyone has their grievances.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Representative, why do you think Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae is reacting this way? Even on this matter, she is going so far as to say, "It's true that I appointed him, but later during the disciplinary proceedings against then-Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol, he took Yoon's side. I misjudged him."
 
[Park Jie-won] I believe Governor Choo Mi-ae has a future only if she succeeds as the governor of Gyeonggi Province. But she keeps searching for hot spots outside her purview; no matter how much the Ministry of Justice complex in Gwacheon lies within Gyeonggi Province, there is no need for her to overstep her bounds into that territory. That is how I see it.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. The president also seemed to touch on this yesterday on X (formerly Twitter), writing: "Reform is done for the people and the nation, not for someone's political achievement and applause. Reform must be the goal; it must not be a means to flaunt distinctiveness, attract attention, or attack others." Who do you think this message was directed toward?
 
[Park Jie-won] I think he made a principled and correct statement. Wasn't he directly communicating his frustrated feelings to the public?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So rather than targeting certain hardline lawmakers within the party, it was simply a principled message?
 
[Park Jie-won] The fact that there is opposition from hardline lawmakers inside the party shows just how healthy the Democratic Party is. And being able to voice disagreement even with the president's directives proves that President Lee Jae-myung is practicing democracy. The president probably won't pay too much mind to this.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] The president has actively used social media since his days as mayor of Seongnam. Recently, some observe that he is trying to persuade his supporters by posting frequently on social media. Do you think the president is utilizing social media effectively?
 
[Park Jie-won] Well, since he is communicating directly with the public, I cannot criticize it, but I do wish he would exercise a bit more restraint.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] In what respect?
 
[Park Jie-won] Because he posts too much.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So he might need to reduce the volume of posts?
 
[Park Jie-won] Yes.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Is it sometimes burdensome for the ruling party when the president publicly states his personal stance on every single pending issue?
 
[Park Jie-won] Naturally. A president's words carry the authority of presidential language, so each and every word becomes an irrevocable message. Isn't that right?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] That's true.
 
[Park Jie-won] That is why, while communicating directly with the public and expressing views to party members is good, doing it too frequently weakens its effectiveness.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. You are a member of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee. I personally expected Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae to come forward and say something this time, out of curiosity.
 
[Park Jie-won] He said so himself, didn't he?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Yes, that he might clarify things during the parliamentary audit.
 
[Park Jie-won] He said himself that he would address it during the parliamentary audit.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Because he said that, I wondered if he might show up and speak, but then...
 
[Park Jie-won] If he says he cannot attend before the ink is even dry, can he really be called a Supreme Court Chief Justice? That is just Seocho-dong politics.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So the bottom line is that he may appear as an institutional witness to give greetings, but he won't appear as a regular audit witness.
 
[Park Jie-won] Does he think he is the king of pop Cho Yong-pil? It shouldn't be about showing up at the very end to say just one word. Even if he appears as an institutional witness, he must sit there the entire day and answer the lawmakers' questions.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] His stated reason for not attending the audit is that "it is inappropriate to disclose the details of consultations with the president." What does this signify?
 
[Park Jie-won] Since when has he been so loyal to and protective of the president? Isn't that truly cringeworthy? Since when did Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae protect and show loyalty like that to President Lee Jae-myung?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So your point is that while he should disclose what can be disclosed from discussions with the president, he needs to show up and speak.
 
[Park Jie-won] He must say what needs to be said. Furthermore, if ordinary civil servants or corporate executives had committed wrongful acts like downsizing legal studies and adjusting personnel numbers, would they have been acquitted? If a Supreme Court Chief Justice did such things, it must be brought to light.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Then, Representative, what measures can the Democratic Party take to bring him to the audit room?
 
[Park Jie-won] We could file complaints, but even if he comes as an institutional witness, he will still have to show up. When he appears, we must hold him accountable.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Are you also considering measures like issuing an order of accompaniment?
 
[Park Jie-won] That is for the committee chair to decide, not for me to step forward and dictate.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] In any case, you are saying that even as an institutional witness, questions that need to be asked must be asked.
 
[Park Jie-won] Of course.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Recently, you made a remark regarding this.
 
[Park Jie-won] If he were Cho Yong-pil, Nam Jin, or Na Hoon-a, he might sing a single song at the very end and refuse to engage, but an institutional witness is an audit witness. He must appear and answer questions at the parliamentary audit.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Even as an institutional witness.
 
[Park Jie-won] Absolutely.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Representative, you recently commented regarding Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae: "It seems he is working to raise his name recognition to run for president."
 
[Park Jie-won] From my perspective, that is precisely what I think.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Is that so?
 
[Park Jie-won] Just as Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol was drafted as a presidential candidate, the People Power Party currently lacks viable contenders. That is why I suspect Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae is doing this to raise his profile.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So just like former Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol back then, could the People Power Party recruit Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae next year or beyond?
 
[Park Jie-won] Since they have no candidates, that could very well happen.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. Let's touch on North Korea issues. Regarding the explosion incident in the DMZ, North Korea refuses to apologize and won't engage in dialogue. They hurled harsh words at us and even fired a ballistic missile over the weekend. Having served as director of the National Intelligence Service, do you think there is a hidden motive behind North Korea's recent actions? What do you think they are aiming for?
 
[Park Jie-won] North Korea always employs such tactics. However, I think we should instead propose holding military talks, just like we did during the wooden box landmine incident back in 2015, and use it as an opportunity to resolve issues such as the Military Demarcation Line (MDL).
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Military talks?
 
[Park Jie-won] Yes.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] However, a news report today noted that while the president and the defense minister pledged to take corresponding measures, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun and Unification Minister Chung Dong-young reportedly clashed over this. In your view, what would be the most appropriate corresponding measure at this timing?
 
[Park Jie-won] Right now, I see the hacking issue emerging as a massive concern, don't you?
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] You mean the recent hacking of the financial sector?
 
[Park Jie-won] Precisely. This is cyber warfare and cyber terrorism. When it comes to cyber hacking that requires a response, North Korea, China, and Russia are the most aggressive. While Chinese characters were used in this recent incident, it has not yet been confirmed whether it originated from China. That is why I hope the National Intelligence Service, police, and cyber intelligence authorities coordinate closely to respond thoroughly. In that sense, I support Foreign Minister Cho Hyun's position.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] So Foreign Minister Cho Hyun called for sanctions over North Korean hacking, while Unification Minister Chung Dong-young questioned what cybercrime had to do with this, leading to raised voices. You suspect that the possibility of North Korea being behind the AI-driven cyberattack on the financial sector cannot be ruled out?
 
[Park Jie-won] It cannot be ruled out. While North Korea, China, and Russia conduct the most cyberattacks, there is also an international cyber marketplace. Professional hackers steal such assets and sell them on the market. We must examine this closely as well. In that regard, what Minister Chung Dong-young said has merit, but since Minister Cho Hyun rightly points out that this is cyber terrorism and cyber warfare, the National Intelligence Service must also step forward to investigate jointly. Otherwise, we face grave danger. If they were to attack our Korail systems, all of our trains would come to a complete halt.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] That is true.
 
[Park Jie-won] To preemptively prevent this, the National Intelligence Service needs to play an active role. While the National Intelligence Service Act has been amended, about three months remain before it takes effect.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Is that so?
 
[Park Jie-won] But this is terrorism right now; it is warfare. Therefore, I believe all relevant agencies must properly counter cyber threats from North Korea, China, and Russia, as well as the cyber black market.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. Representative, one final question. There is considerable controversy surrounding the film 'The Assassin(s)', and I heard you watched it yourself. Having seen it, what were your impressions?
 
[Park Jie-won] People aren't watching 'The Assassin(s)' in large numbers simply because far-right groups promoted it; it has genuine artistic merit. It really does. It is a very well-made movie. Every citizen should definitely watch it once, and I am even running a campaign encouraging people to watch it a second time.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] A campaign to watch it a second time?
 
[Park Jie-won] Yes.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok is reportedly scheduled to visit the birthplace of former First Lady Yuk Young-soo today. How do you assess the People Power Party's offensive against this film?
 
[Park Jie-won] A movie should be viewed as a movie; it should not be turned into a political offensive. Just look at the situation now. The parliamentary audit begins tomorrow, which makes this prime time for the opposition party. Abandoning that to stage street protests is entirely unnecessary. Furthermore, if a film about First Lady Yuk Young-soo were produced, it would likely be very elegant and wonderful. Go ahead and produce it as they wish. But turning President Park Chung-hee's colorful personal history into a movie would also be quite fascinating.
 
[Kim Tae-hyun] Understood. We will conclude here. That was Democratic Party Representative Park Jie-won. Thank you.
 
[Park Jie-won] Thank you.


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