President Yoon May Block Private Briefings from Intelligence Agencies... Presidential Office Says "Reporting Status Is Confidential"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] It has been reported that President Yoon Seok-yeol has tried to avoid one-on-one briefing sessions with the heads of intelligence agencies as much as possible.

While progressive presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in did not receive one-on-one briefings from intelligence agency heads, conservative presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye did, making President Yoon's approach considered unusual.

Since President Yoon, who investigated National Intelligence Service (NIS) issues during his time as a prosecutor, is aware of the drawbacks of one-on-one briefings, it is interpreted that he intends not to receive reports individually.

According to political circles on the 12th, President Yoon plans not to receive one-on-one briefings from the heads of intelligence agencies, including the NIS Director, the Director of the National Intelligence Service, the Commander of the Defense Security Support Command, and the Commissioner of the National Police Agency.

Past governments generally promoted one-on-one briefings with the NIS Director, but President Roh Moo-hyun was the first to abolish such briefings. Later, Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye resumed one-on-one briefings, which were again abolished after President Moon Jae-in took office. After the disbandment of the Defense Security Command in 2018, President Moon also eliminated one-on-one briefings within the military intelligence line.

President Yoon, who faced difficulties within the prosecution after handling the NIS comment manipulation case according to principles and led the investigation into the NIS special activity funds bribery case during his tenure as Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, appears to respect President Moon's policy. During his presidential campaign, Yoon also indirectly expressed his intention not to receive one-on-one briefings from intelligence agency heads.

In particular, with the abolition of the Office of Civil Affairs, which handled affairs such as investigations and personnel verification, and the transfer of related functions to ministries, it is also interpreted as a measure to avoid unnecessary controversies. The Presidential Office recently repeatedly instructed the top police officials to ensure that information collection activities do not infringe on human rights.

However, regarding reports that President Yoon has blocked one-on-one briefings from intelligence agency heads, a key official from the Presidential Office told Asia Economy in a phone interview, “Whether the president receives one-on-one briefings from intelligence agency heads or attends with aides is a security matter,” effectively denying a complete ban.

Meanwhile, Park Jie-won, the last NIS Director under the Moon Jae-in administration, recently revealed on a radio show that "the NIS has created and stored personal files, or X-files, on politicians, businesspeople, journalists, and all members of our society." Within the Intelligence Committee, a special law to collectively dispose of these materials was discussed but no conclusion was reached.