Environmental Group "MB National Intelligence Service Conducted Civilian Surveillance Opposing Four Major Rivers Project"... Document Released

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Documents revealing that the National Intelligence Service (NIS) surveilled environmental groups, religious and academic figures who opposed the Four Major Rivers Project during the Lee Myung-bak administration were disclosed on the 15th.

The Four Major Rivers Restoration Citizens' Committee, Four Major Rivers National Litigation Group, and Naenwara Naepail Citizens' Action held a press conference in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Jongno-gu on the 15th to reveal eight such documents.

Earlier, five environmental organizations including Green Korea United and Green Transport Movement filed an information disclosure request with the NIS on the 2nd of last month and obtained these documents. Believed to have been created between 2008 and 2010, the documents state the reason for their creation as "request from the Blue House." The distribution list included the Senior Secretaries for Political Affairs, Civil Affairs, National Planning, Economy, and Education & Culture, as well as the Chief of Staff to the President and the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister.

The documents covered ▲ Trends and considerations regarding opposition activities to the Four Major Rivers Restoration Project ▲ Preemptive responses to coalition movements among opposition forces ▲ Information on major environmental organizations ▲ Status and management plans for pro- and anti-Four Major Rivers Project groups ▲ Management plans for key opposition figures to the project ▲ Status and mitigation plans for opposition activities from religious sectors ▲ Measures to curb activities of opposing professors to induce activity decline ▲ Meeting materials related to establishing national identity among relevant departments. These documents detailed the trends of environmental groups opposing the project, the status of major organizations, and future plans. They also included plans to suppress opposition activities through tailored responses for environmental groups, religious sectors, academia, and the media. Notably, the information on major environmental organizations included detailed personal data such as key figures’ main activities, career backgrounds, and even allegations of corruption.

Regarding religious groups, the documents summarized opposition activities by denomination and suggested persuading high-ranking officials within each denomination, reducing government subsidies, and uncovering corruption to generate public criticism. For professors opposing the Four Major Rivers Project, it was stated that audits on government funding and research areas should be pursued, and the Ministry of Education should audit compliance with university service regulations and evaluate faculty performance to curb their activities.

Among the eight documents, the ones on the status and management plans for pro- and anti-Four Major Rivers Project groups and the management plans for key opposition figures included the phrase "Request from the Blue House (Public Relations Planning Officer)." Citizen groups believe these documents were prepared at the request of Park Hyung-joon, the People Power Party candidate for Busan mayor and former Public Relations Planning Officer at the Blue House during the Lee Myung-bak administration. According to the citizen groups, although there were many other related documents, they were classified as confidential and thus not disclosed.

They stated, "The entity that illegally surveilled and suppressed groups and individuals opposing the Four Major Rivers Project was the Blue House under the Lee Myung-bak administration, with all state powers, including the NIS, acting as its hands and feet," and added, "We will hold legally and morally accountable Park, who completely denies these facts, along with key Blue House officials at the time, and will take all possible measures to restore the victims' damages."

They also emphasized, "The government and ruling party should not exploit this illegal civilian surveillance for political strife but should see through the essence and accelerate the restoration of the Four Major Rivers."

Meanwhile, the citizen groups plan to file a complaint against candidate Park in Busan on the 17th.

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