ID :
45051
Wed, 02/11/2009 - 15:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/45051
The shortlink copeid
Spy chief appointee vows political neutrality, eyes agency restructuring
SEOUL, Feb. 10 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's intelligence chief-designate promised Tuesday to fulfill his duties with politically neutrality and restructure the agency's organization for more efficiency.
"I will devote myself to the job with a balanced stance based on strict political
neutrality," Won Sei-hoon, nominated for National Intelligence Service (NIS)
chief, told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.
The value of intelligence depends on its authenticity and objectivity, Won said,
and pledged to stand by this principle while serving at the NIS.
Won, the current minister of public administration and security, was appointed by
President Lee Myung-bak last month to head the apy agency.
Critics have cast doubt on the choice, given his lack of experience in the field
of security. They charge that he was picked by Lee not because of his expertise,
but because of the relationship that was forged when Won served as a close aide
to Lee when he was mayor of Seoul.
The nominee said he plans to consolidate the domestic and overseas divisions of
the NIS, saying that present-day intelligence cannot be separated into foreign
and domestic branches.
"Given that (today's) world is truly global, I believe all information should be
brought together for it to become real raw intelligence," Won said.
Won downplayed criticism that President Lee Myung-bak's so-called
"Denuclearization, Openness, 3000" policy toward North Korea has alienated the
two Koreas while Pyongyang seeks rapprochement with Washington.
The policy aims to increase North Korea's per capita income to US$3,000 within a
decade in exchange for the North's abandonment of its nuclear program.
The minister distanced himself from the police raid last month that left six
protesters dead, an incident that forced the nominee for national police chief to
withdraw from the nomination and quit the police force Tuesday.
"I'm not sure if it's appropriate for the public administration minister to be
held accountable for the incident, as I don't directly command specific plans,"
Won said.
On the personal front, Won denied allegations that his wife violated agricultural
land laws by purchasing farmland in 1999. Some lawmakers accuse him of buying
the land for speculative purposes.
He is also accused of peddling influence to arrange special vacations for his
son, who served in the military as a firefighter from 2003-2005.
"I will devote myself to the job with a balanced stance based on strict political
neutrality," Won Sei-hoon, nominated for National Intelligence Service (NIS)
chief, told lawmakers during his confirmation hearing at the National Assembly.
The value of intelligence depends on its authenticity and objectivity, Won said,
and pledged to stand by this principle while serving at the NIS.
Won, the current minister of public administration and security, was appointed by
President Lee Myung-bak last month to head the apy agency.
Critics have cast doubt on the choice, given his lack of experience in the field
of security. They charge that he was picked by Lee not because of his expertise,
but because of the relationship that was forged when Won served as a close aide
to Lee when he was mayor of Seoul.
The nominee said he plans to consolidate the domestic and overseas divisions of
the NIS, saying that present-day intelligence cannot be separated into foreign
and domestic branches.
"Given that (today's) world is truly global, I believe all information should be
brought together for it to become real raw intelligence," Won said.
Won downplayed criticism that President Lee Myung-bak's so-called
"Denuclearization, Openness, 3000" policy toward North Korea has alienated the
two Koreas while Pyongyang seeks rapprochement with Washington.
The policy aims to increase North Korea's per capita income to US$3,000 within a
decade in exchange for the North's abandonment of its nuclear program.
The minister distanced himself from the police raid last month that left six
protesters dead, an incident that forced the nominee for national police chief to
withdraw from the nomination and quit the police force Tuesday.
"I'm not sure if it's appropriate for the public administration minister to be
held accountable for the incident, as I don't directly command specific plans,"
Won said.
On the personal front, Won denied allegations that his wife violated agricultural
land laws by purchasing farmland in 1999. Some lawmakers accuse him of buying
the land for speculative purposes.
He is also accused of peddling influence to arrange special vacations for his
son, who served in the military as a firefighter from 2003-2005.
