President Moon: "The National Intelligence Service's Political Neutrality, Both You and I Have Kept the Promise"

Visit to the National Intelligence Service after 3 years, with the guestbook entry "Invisible dedication and patriotism remembered with the people"
Unveiling ceremony of the new NIS motto stone: "Endless loyalty and devotion to the nation and the people"

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] President Moon Jae-in, during his visit to the National Intelligence Service (NIS) after three years, stated that both he and the members kept their promise regarding political neutrality.

Park Kyung-mi, spokesperson for the Blue House, announced on the 4th, "President Moon attended the National Intelligence Service Reform Performance Report Meeting," adding, "Upon arriving at the NIS, he laid flowers and observed a moment of silence at the ‘Ireum Eomneun Byeol’ (Nameless Star), then wrote in the guestbook, ‘Invisible dedication and patriotism, remembered together with the people.’"

Spokesperson Park added, "At the meeting attended by Park Jie-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, and the first, second, and third deputy directors of the NIS, they exchanged opinions on strengthening capabilities to respond to cyber hacking and the overseas leakage of industrial technology."

In particular, after receiving the report on the NIS reform achievements, President Moon emphasized, "In July 2018, here, I promised that I would never politically use the NIS, would not demand loyalty to the administration, and would firmly guarantee political neutrality. Both I and you have kept that promise."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Moon evaluated, "The NIS has restructured the domestic intelligence organization and carried out truth-finding efforts regarding suspicious cases, while establishing a culture of transparent operations based on legal procedures from intelligence activities to budget execution. Finally, in December last year, through the comprehensive revision of the National Intelligence Service Act, it achieved firm institutionalization of reforms."

He said, "Now, the NIS will never return to the past. This is a precious fruit achieved by the devoted efforts of NIS employees who became the agents of reform and the strong will of the government, and it is a brilliant milestone that will remain in the history of the NIS."

Furthermore, President Moon urged, "Information activities in future battlefields such as cyber and outer space will advance South Korea beyond stronger security to become a leading nation. I hope you will fully demonstrate your capabilities in new areas that only the NIS can handle and do better."

President Moon assessed, "From the early stages of COVID-19, the NIS monitored outbreak situations and response trends in various countries, actively protected our expatriates, and supported vaccine procurement. It played a pivotal role in protecting personnel and technology in advanced industrial technology fields such as semiconductors, bio, batteries, and 5G, and has responded to increasingly sophisticated and intelligent cyber threats."

Meanwhile, President Moon expressed sorrow over the addition of another star to the ‘Ireum Eomneun Byeol’ (Nameless Star), which was unveiled in 2018.

He said, "I bow my head in gratitude to the dedication of the nameless stars who, alive or dead, left no name or title, only the honor of ‘dedication for national interest.’"

President Moon added, "Just as travelers find direction and path by looking at the North Star, I feel reassured by all of you who follow the ‘Ireum Eomneun Byeol’ and walk the path of ‘endless loyalty and dedication to the nation and the people.’"

Spokesperson Park conveyed, "President Moon attended the unveiling ceremony of the new motto stone, ‘Endless loyalty and dedication to the nation and the people,’ and completed the schedule for the National Intelligence Service Reform Performance Report Meeting."

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