Park Ji-won: "Even if Counterintelligence Investigation Authority Transfers to Police, Personnel Will Not Be Forced to Move"

"29 Re-Defectors in the Last 10 Years"
After Jang Song-taek's Execution, Controversy Over 'Head Display' with "He Doesn't Even Know How He Died"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), expressed his position regarding the reform of the NIS, stating that even if the counterintelligence investigation authority is transferred to the police, personnel will not be forcibly transferred unless they voluntarily agree.

Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, is attending the full meeting of the Intelligence Committee held at the National Assembly on the 25th, reviewing documents. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

On the 22nd, Park appeared before the National Assembly Intelligence Committee and responded to the question of whether personnel would also be transferred if the counterintelligence investigation authority is handed over to the police, saying, "If they do not voluntarily apply, it is not being considered," according to Kim Byung-gi of the Democratic Party and Ha Tae-kyung of the People Power Party, who are committee secretaries.

Park stated, "Since the NIS collects criminal information up to the arrest stage, some personnel must remain to gather intelligence," and added, "I am not considering forcibly transferring personnel."

Regarding this, Representative Kim said, "Generally, when functions are transferred, personnel should also be transferred. Some in the police argue that without personnel transfer, capabilities cannot be secured," and added, "We will have in-depth discussions in the bill subcommittee."

On the same day, the Intelligence Committee continued discussions related to a recent case where a defector attempted to defect back to North Korea in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, but was caught by military authorities and detained. Park revealed, "There have been about 29 re-defectors in the past 10 years. Among them, 6 have returned to South Korea."

He said, "We have not been able to specifically ascertain the situation of defectors who returned to North Korea within the country," and added, "The motives for re-defection vary, including persuasion, threats, loneliness, and crime."

Meanwhile, Representative Ha reported that when Park was asked about the method by which North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un executed his uncle Jang Song-thaek, Park replied, "It has been confirmed that Jang Song-thaek’s subordinates were killed by a hail of fire from multiple shotguns, but how Jang Song-thaek himself died is unknown."