Spy chief nominee promises political neutrality
By Kim Hyo-jin
Lee Byung-ho, President Park Geun-hye’s nominee for director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), vowed to make the nation’s top spy agency politically neutral during a confirmation hearing at the National Assembly, Monday.
“I promise I will not allow the agency to be involved in political affairs,” Lee said. “I believe the NIS interfering in politics is wrong in that it could put national security at risk.”
Park appointed the former NIS deputy director as the spy chief last month after his predecessor Lee Byung-ki was tapped as Park’s new chief of staff during a partial reshuffle at Cheong Wa Dae.
The confirmation hearing came amid growing demand for the NIS to stay out of political affairs following a series of scandals.
Former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon was indicted on charges of masterminding a smear campaign in the run-up to the 2012 presidential election. Won allegedly ordered a group of NIS agents to post comments to sway voters’ opinion in favor of then Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye.
The main opposition lawmakers questioned Lee on whether he was qualified to reform the agency.
Rep. Kim Kwang-jin of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) claimed that Lee denied the possibility of NIS systemic intervention in the presidential election in a previously published column.
“It was merely my personal opinion based on the belief I have in NIS agents. But I admit it was an inconsiderate choice of words,” Lee said.
He vowed to renew the NIS over the long term, saying the agency has lost public confidence.
“I’m determined to make every single agent become an expert in security. Not swayed by temporary phenomenon, I believe it is a true reform of the agency,” Lee said.
However, he refused to comment on the political scandal involving the former NIS chief.
After graduating from the Military Academy, Lee served in the spy agency for 26 years mainly in the international department. He also worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1997 as Korean ambassador to Malaysia.
The NPAD lawmakers questioned Lee over his capability to lead the intelligence agency, citing he stayed away from the NIS for too long since 1996.
The NPAD lawmakers also grilled him over allegations that his two sons avoided paying national health insurance premiums. Lee’s two sons, both high-income earners, did not pay national health insurance premiums from 2006 to 2014 as they were registered as Lee’s dependents on the documents. The unpaid amount reaches 150 million won.
Facing the accusation, Lee said it was not deliberate. “From the moment you don’t have a domestic income, you are automatically registered under parents’ dependents,” Lee said. “I and my sons did not even realize it happened.”