NIS Wraps Up Executive Reshuffle Without a Purge? A Message from Professor Son Ho-cheol

One of the hottest topics in and out of political circles these days is undoubtedly the actions of South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS). There's intense interest, particularly since the December 3 emergency martial law declaration last year, in how the NIS is stabilizing internally and what's become of the many NIS executives. With the quiet conclusion of personnel moves for Level 1 through 4 executives last August and November, various interpretations are emerging about the nature of this reshuffle.

Breaking the Vicious Cycle of 'Clean Sweeps'? The First Test for Lee Jong-suk's Pragmatism

During past transitions of power, the NIS was an organization often swept by a "purge," earning the stigma of a "bloody crackdown." It became a sort of ingrained practice for all Level 1 executives to be placed on standby simultaneously upon a new administration taking office, only to be replaced sequentially. However, the first NIS reshuffle under the current Lee Jae-myung administration was different. During the reshuffle of about 20 Level 1 executives last August, a significant number of appointees from the Yoon Suk-yeol administration were retained.

The prevailing view is that this directly reflects the principles of 'prohibiting political retaliation' and 'prioritizing expertise' that NIS Director Lee Jong-suk promised during his confirmation hearing. In the past, it was common for accumulated know-how at the NIS to be lost as the organization tried to read the political winds. However, this reshuffle seems to emphasize operational continuity and prioritize organizational stability under a 'pragmatism' framework. Indeed, it had been an open secret within the NIS that "as long as you have the ability, you won't be pushed out just for being from a previous administration."

So, How Was the December 3 Martial Law Situation Handled?

Of course, not all questions have been answered. The biggest remaining question concerns the NIS's internal clean-up regarding the emergency martial law incident. According to internal sources, the NIS has been investigating the extent of employee involvement in the martial law declaration since Director Lee took office, and the results have been factored into this reshuffle. This investigation is seen as an extension of the inspection work typically conducted when a new director is appointed.

In other words, the two rounds of personnel changes last August and November were not merely about reassigning roles; they also served as a cleanup operation to eliminate the political risk of being 'implicated in the martial law incident.' According to a high-ranking political source, there were extensive internal discussions within the intelligence community regarding this reshuffle, and it's understood that a position has been set to reorganize intelligence-gathering systems for potential future contingencies.

The NIS 'Now' Through the Lens of Son Ho-cheol

The figure to watch here is Professor Son Ho-cheol, an emeritus professor at Sogang University. Widely known as a progressive political scientist, he actually has quite a deep connection with the NIS. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, when the NIS operated a past history truth investigation committee (the so-called 'Past History Committee'), he participated directly as a representative from academia. Notably, the investigation he was involved in was a crucial effort to uncover the truth behind the fabricated 'People's Revolutionary Party Reconstruction Committee case' from the Park Chung-hee regime. At the time, he contributed to uncovering the facts, calling the case "the most disgraceful incident in our nation's judicial history."

Furthermore, in the early 2000s, he offered a sober analysis of the 'leftist controversy' that arose when many former activists entered the National Assembly. At that time, Professor Son clearly stated his conviction: "The entry of former activists into the National Assembly is not a recent phenomenon, and not all of them are leftists. If they form a reformist bloc and adhere to principles, it's not something to be concerned about." This background demonstrates that he is not just a theorist but a scholar who is a 'living witness,' deeply understanding both the field and history.

If he were to look at the current NIS, what might he say? Perhaps something like this:

• First, the most important thing is to avoid repeating the misuse of state power, as seen in past cases like the People's Revolutionary Party incident. He knows better than anyone that the organization's political neutrality is its lifeline.
• Second, he would likely advise that the 'pragmatism' shown in the personnel decisions should not merely be about resolving personnel backlogs but must flourish on the foundation of 'expertise.' This means the 'principles and integrity' he championed about two decades ago should become core values in operating the NIS.
• Third, he would probably emphasize 'principled engagement' regarding North Korea issues. In the past, he consistently supported the Sunshine Policy while maintaining the stance that North Korea's wrongdoings must be firmly addressed.

Where Should the NIS Head Now?

In summary, the current NIS appears to have shed the outdated practice of a 'sweeping reshuffle' and embarked on its first voyage along a new course of pragmatism. Director Lee Jong-suk's choice to prioritize organizational stability even amidst the extreme variable of the martial law declaration seems to be garnering considerable trust, at least internally within the NIS.

Of course, many hurdles remain. Key points to watch moving forward include whether the same principle will be applied to the upcoming Level 2 and 3 personnel changes, whether North Korea intelligence-gathering capabilities can be revived as before, and most importantly, whether the value of 'political neutrality' can be upheld. This is why we must listen carefully to the sharp questions posed by senior scholars like Professor Son Ho-cheol regarding whether the National Intelligence Service of South Korea can truly be reborn as a genuine national security expert organization.