NIS Chief Nominee Lee Jongseok's Confirmation Hearing: Road Traffic Violations and North Korea Policy in Focus

Opposition: "Nominee's Submission of Records Inadequate"
Ruling Party: "Personal Information Concerns and North Korea Visits Are National Security Issues"

On June 19, the National Assembly Intelligence Committee conducted a comprehensive review of Lee Jongseok, nominee for Director of the National Intelligence Service, during his confirmation hearing. The review covered issues such as his qualifications and capabilities to lead the intelligence agency, his moral character, his perspective on North Korea, and controversies including violations of the Road Traffic Act.

In his opening statement, Lee Jongseok pledged, "I will do my utmost to support the success of pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interest, as declared by President Lee Jaemyung." He also stated, "I will make every effort to ease inter-Korean tensions, resolve hostile relations, and maintain a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance." He promised to strengthen the NIS's capabilities in areas such as collecting intelligence on North Korea, gathering overseas intelligence, addressing national security issues including economic security, and resolving issues that directly affect the public, such as cyberterrorism and narcotics.

This was the first confirmation hearing for a major official of the Lee Jaemyung administration, drawing significant attention both inside and outside political circles. The review of Lee's personal background and moral character was conducted publicly in Conference Room 2 of the National Assembly's main building, while security-related matters, such as North Korea policy, were examined privately in the Intelligence Committee's meeting room.

From the outset, both the ruling and opposition parties clashed over issues such as violations of the Road Traffic Act and the number and circumstances of Lee's visits to North Korea. According to the written confirmation hearing questionnaire submitted to the National Assembly, Lee Jongseok paid 730,000 won in fines for 16 violations of the Road Traffic Act over the past five years.

Lee Seongkwon, a member of the People Power Party and the opposition secretary of the Intelligence Committee, criticized Lee Jongseok for being uncooperative during the hearing regarding requests for records on traffic violations, traffic accident handling, and immigration data. Park Seonwon, a member of the Democratic Party and the ruling party secretary, countered by pointing out issues with submitting personal information and arguing that Lee's record of visits to North Korea is a national security matter that should be addressed in the closed session of the hearing.

During the closed session, attention is expected to focus on Lee Jongseok's background as a scholar who provided theoretical support for the Sunshine Policy and his 13 previous visits to North Korea. The Intelligence Committee plans to adopt the confirmation hearing report on June 20 if no disqualifying issues are found regarding the nominee.

Lee Jongseok, nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service, is speaking at the confirmation hearing held by the National Assembly Intelligence Committee on the 19th. 2025.6.19 Photo by Kim Hyunmin