Korean embassy 'distressed' at Aguirre's Korean mafia claims

MANILA, Philippines — The Korean Embassy in Manila criticized Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre for releasing "unfounded information" after he said at a Senate hearing that a Korean mafia might be involved in the kidnapping and killing of a Korean businessman last year.

The embassy criticized Aguirre for making "misleading statements" about the existence of a so-called Korean mafia at a Senate hearing on Thursday.

"Even some people in the Korean embassy have been compromised by the Korean mafia," the Justice secretary said without providing evidence on his claim.

The embassy expressed "strong distress" that the information Aguirre gave at the hearing "could tarnish its honor and reputation."

It also demanded that the Justice secretary present concrete evidence to substantiate his claims that some embassy personnel were involved with the supposed mafia.

The embassy said that in a meeting with Aguirre, representatives emphasized that Jee lived an honest life "as a conscientious businessman, having no connections at all with any malicious Korean persons."

"The officials also recalled the PNP's consistent confirmations that this case has nothing to do with a Korean mafia," the embassy's statement said.

It also noted Aguirre's promise that his department would no longer pursue the angle on the possible link of Jee and the Korean mafia in its future probes.

The embassy explained that its consul general and a police attache together with Jee Ick-Joo's widow met Aguirre on Feb. 13 because the justice chief wanted to clarify the rumor that Jee had a possible collaboration with the Korean mafia.

The secretary's position is at odds with those of the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine National Police which have ruled out the possible link of Jee to the Korean mafia.