NIS committee recommends legislation to prohibit domestic intelligence gathering

Posted on : 2017-08-25 19:34 KST Modified on : 2017-08-25 19:34 KST
National Assembly action needed to prevent further interference by spy agency in domestic politics
The National Intelligence Service building
The National Intelligence Service building

The National Intelligence Service's (NIS) reform committee headed by Professor Jeong Hae-gu advised the spy agency to specifically forbid in its regulations the resurrection of the division that collected and analyzed domestic intelligence.

Upon being appointed this past June 1, NIS Director Suh Hoon ordered the "complete and immediate dissolution" of the positions of intelligence officers who were responsible for domestic intelligence. The reform committee also announced a reformation process that would disband the departments that collect and analyze information on domestic politics.

In a press release following the announcement on Aug. 24, the NIS reform committee explained that the action was "a follow-up measure to aid and strengthen the systematic effort to prevent NIS interference in domestic politics." Although the disbandment of the two departments was already underway, along with the dissolution of the intelligence officer positions, the committee advised the revision of specific regulations in support of those measures.

Yet NIS regulations can be amended or bypassed at any time based on decisions by those working at the agency. If a new administration takes power and revises the regulations, then the NIS can resume collecting intelligence on domestic politics. This is why NIS interference in domestic politics needs to be forbidden by law.

"The NIS has confirmed that they'll reform their regulations to forbid interference with domestic politics," confided a source close to the NIS reform committee in a phone interview with the Hankyoreh.

"When the regular session of the National Assembly convenes, the NIS reform committee will further recommend a revision of the NIS Act which not only dissolves anti-Communist investigations but forbids the resurrection of departments designed to collect intelligence on domestic politics," the source added.  

By Kim Tae-kyu, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

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