Handonghun: "NIS 'Transfer of Counterintelligence Investigation Authority' is Practically Abandoning Spy Investigations"

"Spy investigations cannot be conducted by general investigative agencies like the police"
"Spy investigations should be handled by 'intelligence agencies' like the National Intelligence Service"

Photo of Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Han Dong-hoon, leader of the People Power Party, urged the reinstatement of the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) counterintelligence investigative authority. Han judged that transferring the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority to the police during the Moon Jae-in administration affected the progress of investigations.

On the 14th, Han shared a news report on Facebook stating that "the NIS identified about 100 suspects linked to North Korea during investigations into the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, Changwon, and Jeju spy cases but has not been able to proceed with further investigations." The report included an analysis that the abolition of the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority and its transfer to the police impacted the investigation progress.

Regarding the transfer of the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority to the police, he said it was "an abandonment of spy investigations" and insisted that the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority must be reinstated. He pointed out, "Spy investigations belong more to the 'intelligence domain' than the 'investigative domain.' Until now, it has been handled by 'intelligence agencies' like the NIS, not 'general investigative agencies' such as the police or prosecution. That know-how cannot be suddenly inherited."

He added, "The Democratic Party's transfer of the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority to the police was not a 'replacement' of the agency responsible for spy investigations but an 'abandonment' of the spy investigations themselves." He continued, "The Democratic Party is trying to go further by abolishing even the NIS's investigative authority after abolishing its counterintelligence investigative authority. I want to ask why the Democratic Party is doing this and why they are acting this way."

Song Young-hoon, spokesperson for the People Power Party, also issued a statement, saying, "The National Intelligence Service Act that abolished the counterintelligence investigative authority is a clear failure." He added, "It is not just a simple failure but a reckless act of self-harm that has undermined our national security." Spokesperson Song urged, "The NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority must be reinstated even now," and called on the Democratic Party to "join the reinstatement of the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority with a 'responsible attitude'." This shows the People Power Party's intention to strengthen counterintelligence activities.