NIS reform plan snubbed by opposition parties

By Kim Hyo-jin

A reform plan of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) faced strong backlash by opposition parties, Thursday, showing little possibility of winning endorsement in the National Assembly.

The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) denounced the plan, saying the spy agency is backpedaling on its tasks for protecting national security.

“The liberal administration is taking a path to incapacitate the spy agency and give up national security,” LKP floor leader Rep. Chung Woo-taik said during a party meeting, likening the plan to an “announcement of disbanding the spy agency.”

“We will come up with an appropriate revision bill for the NIS at the legislative level.”

Minor Bareun Party leader Yoo Seong-min agreed, expressing concerns about limiting the agency’s investigative rights.

“Who will catch spies or terrorists if we abolish its investigative rights?” Yoo asked. “It came up with a wrong solution when it was supposed to deal with the issue of political maneuvering.”

The NIS announced its own reform plan, Wednesday, which includes renaming the agency and relinquishing all of its investigative rights including counterespionage.

Under the plan, the agency seeks to change its name to one tentatively translated as “External Security Intelligence Service.”

It also limited the extent of its intelligence-collection activities to only include cases regarding overseas and North Korean intelligence, counterespionage, counterterrorism, international criminal organizations, the defense industry and economic security.

It pledged to ban any prying into the government and public organizations, civic groups, media and businesses.

The spy agency submitted a revision bill regarding the agency’s operations to the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee based on its reform scheme, saying it will push for its passage within the provisional session of the Assembly which lasts until Dec. 9.

The suggestions were made amid brewing allegations on the agency’s political maneuvering activities in previous conservative governments.

The move came as part of its efforts to discolor its tarnished reputation and restore public trust, according to its officials.

The NIS is suspected of being involved in an online smear campaign against opposition candidates in the 2012 presidential election.

Three of its former directors are accused of having provided about 4 billion won of its budget allocated for its confidential activities to the presidential office and politicians during the Park Geun-hye administration.