NIS Purges Key Figures from Previous Administration

Personnel Changes for Levels 2 and 3... Over 100 Officials Awaiting Non-Position Assignments
Low Job Evaluations or Purge of Key Figures from Moon Era
Details on Background Checks Specified... Presidential Office Requests Possible
Park Ji-won: "Being National Intelligence Service Chief Was a Crime... Political Retaliation Personnel Moves"

Won Hoon-seok, National Intelligence Service [Photo by National Intelligence Service]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] It has been reported that around 100 personnel did not receive assignments during the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) personnel reshuffle involving senior executives. This is seen as the completion of the purge of key figures from the previous administration within about six months since the Yoon Seok-yeol government took office.

According to intelligence authorities on the 6th, NIS Director Kim Kyu-hyun appointed about 20 first-grade executives anew in early September and then began personnel work for second- and third-grade personnel.

Earlier in June, all 27 directors, who hold first-grade positions, were placed on standby orders, and it is reported that all first-grade executives appointed during the Moon Jae-in administration have since retired.

Subsequently, during the recent personnel reshuffle for second- and third-grade agents, about 100 individuals reportedly did not receive assignments. In effect, they were placed on standby without positions. Among them were many who had been involved in major policies during the Moon administration, those close to former NIS Director Park Ji-won and other personnel, as well as those with low job evaluation scores.

On the other hand, appropriate individuals were advanced to strengthen the intelligence agency's core missions, such as counterintelligence collection. Those who did not receive assignments this time are expected to be assigned to education or support roles.

With the completion of personnel assignments for senior executives within six months of the Yoon Seok-yeol government's launch, it is also evaluated that the replacement of personnel from the previous administration has been finalized.

Alongside this, the NIS recently began reform efforts, including revising security work regulations. On the 28th of last month, it amended Article 57 of the Enforcement Rules of the Security Work Regulations, specifying the scope of NIS background checks, which had been defined as public officials of grade 3 or higher in central administrative agencies, to include political appointees, senior executive service members, and ranks equivalent to grade 3 or higher under the public officials' salary regulations.

In particular, if the president recognizes it as necessary for efficient background checks, the Chief of the Presidential Secretariat may request the NIS director to conduct a background check.

Park Ji-won, Former Director of the National Intelligence Service [Image Source=Yonhap News]

The series of reform moves have sparked growing opposition, especially from opposition parties. Criticism has arisen labeling it as 'retaliatory personnel reshuffle' following the change of government, and concerns have been raised about the revision of the NIS background check regulations as a 'revival of the so-called "Jonan data."' Jonan data refers to records kept by intelligence agencies in the past on activities of various figures, including information on their private lives and reputations, which caused controversy.

Former NIS Director Park Ji-won called the personnel reshuffle 'retaliation' during a TBS radio broadcast on the same day, saying, "It is a sin that I served as NIS director." He criticized, "About 100 people were placed on standby without positions," and questioned, "Should there be such retaliation every time the government changes?"

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and considered a close aide to former President Moon, directly attacked on Facebook, stating, "The current government's 'political retaliation' is proving itself to be happening on an all-encompassing scale."

The NIS stated that it cannot confirm anything regarding personnel matters in accordance with relevant regulations.

Regarding the revision of the background check regulations, the NIS explained, "Since the launch of the current government, there has been a need to clarify the scope of background checks and to enhance the substance of background checks for senior positions handling national secrets related to national security, leading to the amendment of the enforcement rules."

They added, "No so-called 'Jonan data' is produced from the information collected through background checks, and the results (reports) after the investigation are only notified to the requesting agency heads," emphasizing, "Background checks are conducted under strict legal requirements regarding purpose, target, and method, and thus are not civilian surveillance."