President Yoon Dismisses Top National Intelligence Service Officials

SEOUL – In a move without precedent, President Yoon Suk Yeol dismissed National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Kim Kyou-hyun and his two deputies last Friday, leaving the top NIS position vacant while filling the deputy roles.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this unusual sequence of appointments is a first for South Korea, as traditionally, the NIS director is appointed first, followed by the deputies based on the director's recommendation. The presidential office cited the need for a confirmation hearing in the National Assembly as a reason for the delay in selecting a new NIS chief. However, this has led to speculation about President Yoon's intention to bring the NIS under direct presidential control.

This reversed order of appointments may potentially cause disharmony or even mutiny within the spy agency, especially given the recent internal friction among the top officials. The exact nature of the internal situation at the NIS remains unclear to those outside the agency.

Since President Yoon's administration began in May last year, the NIS has experienced a power struggle between existing and new personnel, a common occurrence with changes in government. However, this conflict has persisted for 18 months, exacerbated by Kim's attempts to purge staff from the previous administration and resistance from current officials advocating for a more gradual transition. The delayed response from President Yoon in addressing these issues has contributed to the turmoil.

The sudden dismissal of the top three NIS officials raises questions, particularly as President Yoon has yet to propose a candidate for the next NIS chief. Reports suggest the president was frustrated over the ongoing internal conflicts during a crucial period when the government was focusing on promoting Busan for the World Expo 2030 in Paris.

Opposition parties have criticized the president for the disarray in the NIS and have called for the Assembly's Intelligence Committee to convene. The editorial emphasizes the critical timing of these issues, noting ongoing global conflicts and the heightened threat from North Korea.

Concerns are also raised about the NIS's readiness to counter North Korea's cyberwarfare tactics and to protect against industrial espionage, particularly from countries like China targeting South Korean manufacturing technology. The NIS's history, including its past involvement in politics and crackdowns on pro-democracy activists, is highlighted, with a call for continued efforts to maintain its apolitical stance.

In light of these challenges, the editorial urges the president to select a politically neutral expert as the next NIS chief, capable of both cooperating and outmaneuvering international counterparts. The previous NIS director's silence on allegations of U.S. surveillance in the presidential office points to a need for a more capable and independent leader at the helm of the NIS.