Confirmation Hearing for NIS Nominee Lee Jongseok Concludes... Report to Be Adopted Tomorrow Morning

The ruling and opposition parties concluded the confirmation hearing for Lee Jongseok, nominee for Director of the National Intelligence Service, on the 19th and plan to adopt the confirmation hearing report on the 20th.

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

Lee Sungkwon, a member of the People Power Party and opposition secretary of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, told reporters after the hearing for the nominee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, that "the report is scheduled to be adopted at 10 a.m. tomorrow."

He added, "Since each party needs to go through its own process of gathering opinions, I cannot make any definitive statements at this time."

Park Sunwon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and the ruling party secretary, said, "This afternoon's questioning session was conducted with great seriousness, involving a discussion-style inquiry on various topics. Through this process, committee members clearly expressed their interest in enabling the National Intelligence Service to make a fresh leap forward as a better national intelligence agency, and the nominee responded sincerely."

He continued, "The nominee fully stated his views on inter-Korean relations, and lawmakers from both parties shared the view that the National Intelligence Service should be able to fulfill its role as a more stable institution going forward."

The National Assembly Intelligence Committee held the first confirmation hearing of the Lee Jaemyung administration for the nominee on this day. In the morning session, questions focused on personal matters such as ethics, while in the afternoon, security-related questions on North Korea and intelligence were conducted behind closed doors.

During the morning session, the ruling and opposition parties clashed over the nominee's political orientation.

Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, said, "There are many comments here and there that the nominee's orientation is excessively pro-North Korea," and added, "When someone like this becomes the head of the National Intelligence Service, I am concerned whether the agency will function as an institution that protects the Republic of Korea or merely as a liaison office for North Korea."

In response, Kim Youngjin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "It is unacceptable to refer to the nominee for Director of the National Intelligence Service as the head of a liaison office for North Korea," and added, "Would you be comfortable if someone called former President Yoon Sukyeol the chief of a liaison office for protecting the leader of an insurrection? I demand an apology for this remark."