"I Will Reveal the Truth Behind Illegal Surveillance"‥ Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon, Requests 'Information Disclosure' from the National Intelligence Service

Actions Following the Supreme Court Ruling on the Cancellation of the NIS Information Non-Disclosure Decision

Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province, has filed a request for information disclosure against the National Intelligence Service (NIS), stating that he will "reveal the truth about the illegal collection and surveillance of information."

On the 11th, Governor Choi disclosed that the information disclosure request includes ▲ three already identified 'surveillance-type information' through the activities of the Democratic Party's Special Task Force for clearing deep-rooted evils and the media, and ▲ 'surveillance-type information' illegally collected beyond the duties of the NIS regarding the major legislative activities of the 18th National Assembly members, a constitutional institution, and administrative actions of the Gangwon Province governor.

Governor Choi explained the reason for the information disclosure request, saying, "This is to uncover the truth about the illegal collection and surveillance of information by the national intelligence agency beyond its duties, to prevent abuse of power by the NIS, and to create an opportunity to transform the NIS into a competent intelligence agency for the people."

He added, "Since the NIS’s own sealing measures, which omit the information disclosure process, cannot restore the unfair damage to the victims, and because the seal could be lifted again when the administration changes, this request for information disclosure by many is to confirm the illegal surveillance facts and institutionalize the complete destruction of those records and judicial control mechanisms."

Governor Choi also stated, "Publicly revealing the fact of the information disclosure request is to strengthen solidarity with surveillance victims who hesitate to request information disclosure due to concerns about secondary damage such as exposure of illegal surveillance information during the disclosure process, officialization of the surveillance documents, and issues of proof arising from exposure of false facts."

The basis for this information disclosure request follows the Supreme Court Special Division 2’s decision on November 12, 2020, which dismissed the NIS’s appeal and upheld the lower court’s order to disclose illegal surveillance information concerning former Superintendent Kwak No-hyun and painter Park Jae-dong, who had filed a lawsuit to cancel the non-disclosure of information against the NIS.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.