IN A SURPRISING MOVE that has stirred curiosity across Asia, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has abruptly ousted the entire senior leadership of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), a powerful entity in the country.
The
announcement
came through a statement released on Sunday by the Office of the
President, stating that President Yoon had accepted the resignations of
the NIS director and two deputy directors. However, it is
widely understood that these resignations were not voluntary but rather a result of pressure exerted by the president.
Among those dismissed, Director Kim
Kyou-huyn and First Deputy Director Kwon Chun-taek, both considered
close to President Yoon, had lengthy backgrounds in South Korea’s
diplomatic corps. Kim, a seasoned executive with deep insights into
South Korea-United States relations, had served lengthy tours in the
South Korean embassy in Washington. Kwon, with experience in the
diplomatic corps and roles at the United Nations, also had a strong
international background. Yoon had appointed
both to lead the NIS soon after assuming the presidency in May 2022.
The third ousted NIS executive was Second Deputy Director Kim Soo-youn,
appointed by Yoon in June 2022. The second deputy traditionally oversees
activities related to North Korea, while the first deputy is
responsible for the agency’s global collection operations,
counterterrorism, and counterintelligence.
Speculation in Seoul abounds regarding
the reasons behind President Yoon’s swift decision to dismiss the NIS
leadership. A firebrand politician who is seen as a representative of a
new generation of South Korean conservatives, Yoon has pledged a robust
security and defense policy in response to perceived North Korean
provocations. Recent media reports have hinted at Yoon’s impatience with
bureaucratic obstacles within the NIS, particularly regarding personnel
management.
South Korean media reports indicate that
another seasoned diplomat, Hong Jang-won, has assumed the NIS first
deputy directorship, while the former North Korea area chief, Hwang
Won-jin, has taken over as the second deputy director. Notably, the
director position remains vacant, with Hong temporarily leading the
agency until a new director is appointed in the coming weeks.
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