Kim Tae-nyeon: "NIS Must Disclose Illegal Surveillance Documents from MB Era"

Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 27th and delivering an opening remark. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, demanded the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to disclose documents on the 27th, stating, "There are indications that the Lee Myung-bak administration carried out illegal surveillance through the NIS."

At the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly that morning, Floor Leader Kim explained the evidence, saying, "According to the documents reported in the media, during the Lee Myung-bak administration, the NIS labeled Kim Seung-hwan, the Superintendent of Education of Jeollabuk-do, as an opposition figure and surveilled him," and "The documents also include content that in 2009, the Blue House's Civil Affairs Office requested the NIS to manage personal information of all ruling and opposition party lawmakers."

He continued, "If this is true, the Lee Myung-bak administration committed political surveillance through the NIS," emphasizing, "It is distressing that the previously revealed facts such as media control and the blacklist in the cultural sector may only be the tip of the iceberg."

He stated, "We cannot allow such unforgivable criminal acts to be buried," and added, "All illegal and illicit acts committed by the Lee Myung-bak Blue House and the NIS must be thoroughly investigated without leaving any suspicion."

Furthermore, he said, "The NIS must cooperate in thoroughly revealing the truth about illegal civilian surveillance through information disclosure," and added, "Since Park Ji-won, the director of the NIS, has expressed willingness to cooperate with information disclosure requests from the victims' standpoint, we request the NIS to disclose the documents."