A close aide to former President Yoon Suk-yeol revealed that the reason behind not disclosing the Chinese spy ring arrest case was the sentiment that "we couldn't respond. Doing so would have immediately triggered a full-blown war with China."

The close aide stated this to reporters while speaking with former President Yoon, who had been released after his detention was revoked, at his residence in Hannam-dong. The aide added, "It was such a tremendous issue that he couldn't possibly reveal it."

☀ The consolidated video with subtitles has been posted at the bottom. 

[Yoon's Close Aide (voice modulated): "Is it true that you arrested Chinese hackers? Was it because of that that martial law was declared? When I asked about this, the response was, 'Ah, I couldn't respond to that. If I had, it would have immediately triggered a full-blown war with China.' So, it was such a tremendous issue that he couldn't possibly reveal it..."] 

While emphasizing that this was his personal opinion, the aide explained that he understood the underlying situation, stating, "At the Constitutional Court's final statement, he mentioned there were secrets a head of state could not speak about. If it wasn't a diplomatic issue, there would be no reason for that." He concluded, "Ultimately, he couldn't bring himself to speak about the Chinese spy ring case in his own words."

[Yoon's Close Aide (voice modulated): "Yes, and... at the Constitutional Court's final statement, he said there were secrets a head of state couldn't speak about. If it's not a diplomatic issue, there's no reason for that. (Right, of course) So, it was ultimately that, and he couldn't bring himself to speak about it in his own words."] 

When asked by Yoon what would happen if the United States revealed China's interference in South Korea's election fraud, the aide relayed that Yoon responded, "Then I would immediately return to the presidency." He further explained, "That response was based on the premise that the core plot of the Sky Daily article was true."

[Yoon's Close Aide (voice modulated): "I went in on Sunday afternoon (Omitted: Description of First Lady Kim Keon-hee) Then, during another conversation, I asked what would happen if the U.S. revealed election fraud. He replied, 'Then it would be overturned right away.' (There are always such expectations. Indeed.) So, that response was made on the premise that the core plot of the Sky Daily article was true."] 

The close aide also mentioned observations and feelings regarding First Lady Kim Keon-hee's appearance when he visited the residence, but this information is not for publication.

In February, the same close aide had previously stated to a reporter that it was a "confirmed fact at the presidential office level." Coincidentally, this was the day when about ten individuals, including the initial informant, key sources, and some members of an information analysis team who overlapped with these individuals, were scheduled to meet for the first time at a private room in a restaurant in Gangnam. The reporter introduced the close aide, who also attended the meeting. Among the journalists was VON CEO Kim Mi-young, a former Monthly Chosun reporter. CEO Kim subsequently released a YouTube broadcast based on the conversations that took place that day.

The close aide met with the reporter at a coffee shop an hour before the overall meeting at 6 PM that day and gave his testimony. Seemingly feeling pressured by the attention that would be focused on the "presidential office confirmation" from the attendees, he requested "off the record" from the reporter just before the general meeting. The reporter urgently relayed this to the former high-ranking intelligence official who had arranged the meeting, and no mention of confirmation from the presidential office was made public during that gathering.

By Heo Gyeom

The following is a screenshot of the Sky Daily's online report from April 16th. Shin Min-kyung-doo, the new CEO of Sky Daily, drastically shifted the publication's tone to a left-leaning stance immediately after taking office in April, and prevented this article from being published. Furthermore, he demoted the then-editor-in-chief who pushed for its publication, the reporter (special investigative team chief) who was in charge of the reporting, and the chief editor who consulted and supported the reporting. Prior to this, CEO Shin ignored the suggestions of editorial executives who had evidence, including recorded files, that the report was credible. He also decided to post a "warning letter" on the Sky Daily homepage, which was unilaterally sent by the Newspaper Ethics Committee composed of legacy media, concluding that it was fake news. 

Screenshot of Sky Daily's online report from April 16th.

The consolidated video with subtitles for videos ①-③ above has been posted below.

[Subtitle] Yoon's Close Aide: "Responding to China's Spy Ring Would Cause a 'Korea-China War'... Sky Daily's Report Was True" [Consolidated Subtitles for Parts ①, ②, ③]