The Democratic Party Unilaterally Passes National Intelligence Service Act Amendment at the Intelligence Committee... Opposition Calls It a Deterioration, Not Reform (Comprehensive)

Ha Tae-kyung "5th Republic Security Headquarters and Nationwide Surveillance"
Jeon Hae-cheol "Meaningful to Improve NIS System"
Ruling Party Plans to Handle in Plenary Session on the 9th

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Lim Chun-han and Jeon Jin-young] The amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act passed the National Assembly Intelligence Committee plenary session on the 30th, solely by the Democratic Party of Korea, amid opposition from opposition parties.

The Intelligence Committee held a plenary session in the afternoon, submitted the amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act, and proceeded with a vote. The People Power Party abstained from voting, opposing the 'transfer of counterintelligence investigation authority.'

This amendment primarily involves transferring the National Intelligence Service's counterintelligence investigation authority to the police (with a three-year grace period before implementation) and removing domestic intelligence collection from its scope of duties. The People Power Party has opposed the transfer, arguing that it would lead to excessive police power and weaken national security capabilities, calling it a 'deterioration.'

Ha Tae-kyung, the People Power Party's secretary of the Intelligence Committee, told reporters immediately after the meeting, “If domestic intelligence and investigations are combined within the police, it would be like establishing the Security Headquarters of the 5th Republic era, and the clause on economic order disruption would open the door to nationwide surveillance.” He added, “We made efforts to correct the toxic clauses until the end.” Lee Cheol-gyu, a People Power Party lawmaker, criticized, “The amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act is not reform but deterioration,” and pointed out, “The counterintelligence investigation function has been abolished. It is abolition, not transfer.”

Jeon Hae-cheol, chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said, “Reforming the National Intelligence Service is not a recent matter; it has been discussed for years. Although only we approved it, I hope the passage of the National Intelligence Service Act will not have a negative effect on inter-party relations,” and added, “I believe it is meaningful as an opportunity to achieve the institutional improvement of the National Intelligence Service that has been pursued for years.”

Regarding the opposition's concerns, Chairman Jeon said, “There were worries about a decline in counterintelligence investigation capabilities, but the National Intelligence Service has earnestly explained several times,” and stated, “The functions of the National Intelligence Service have rather been strengthened, and since investigations will be conducted in coordination with security agencies within the National Police Agency, there is no concern about a decrease in investigative capabilities.”

Earlier, the amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act was also approved solely by the Democratic Party at the bill subcommittee on the 24th. The Democratic Party plans to process the amendment at the plenary session on the 9th.