Yoon Administration Returns to the Original Motto from KCIA and ANSP Era
The National Intelligence Service (NIS) has restored its official motto to "Information is national power," which was the motto during the administrations of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun.
On the morning of July 17, the NIS held a ceremony to unveil the monument bearing this motto, attended by Director Lee Jongseok, Yangji Association President Jang Jonghan, and others. The motto "Information is national power" was established during the Kim Dae-jung administration after gathering input from staff and the public, and it continued to be used through the Roh Moo-hyun administration.
The NIS stated, "In the era of a government based on popular sovereignty, we decided to restore this motto to reflect our commitment to developing into an NIS for the people, and to emphasize the importance of information that pursues national interest and practicality from a pragmatic perspective."
The monument uses the original version created based on the handwritten calligraphy of former President Kim Dae-jung. It is made of granite and measures 5.6 meters in length, 2.7 meters in height, and 1 meter in thickness. Director Lee emphasized, "The reason for reinstating this motto is self-evident. It is a message that is neither excessive nor insufficient, but exactly what we need to overcome the challenges facing our country, both at home and abroad."
Director Lee further stated, "The responsibilities and roles of the NIS in supporting national security and interests through information are fully embodied in this motto. I urge all staff to keep this motto in mind, further strengthen our information capabilities, and dedicate ourselves to safeguarding the national interest."
Meanwhile, the first motto of the NIS's predecessor organizations, the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and the Agency for National Security Planning, was "We work in the shadows, aspiring to the light." After the agency was renamed the NIS, the second motto was "Information is national power." The third motto was "Anonymous dedication to freedom and truth" (2008?2016), the fourth was "Silent dedication, solely for the protection and glory of the Republic of Korea" (2016?2021), and the fifth was "Boundless loyalty and dedication for the nation and the people" (2021?2022). The sixth motto returned to the first: "We work in the shadows, aspiring to the light."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
