Citizen Group: "NIS's Public Apology Was Forced... Special Legislation Needed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] Park Ji-won, the Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), issued a public apology for illegal surveillance and political interference committed by past administrations, but civic groups called it a "forced apology" and urged the enactment of a special law on illegal NIS surveillance.

Civic groups such as the NIS Monitoring Network held a press conference at the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy on the 27th, demanding, "The president, as the highest national authority, should apologize, and the National Assembly should enact a special law to investigate the truth behind the NIS's civilian surveillance and covert operations."

They also called for the establishment of a truth investigation committee with independent and substantial investigative authority, suspension of the statute of limitations during the investigation period to punish those responsible, and the enactment of a special law including recommendations on measures to restore the victims' honor and prevent recurrence.

The NIS Illegal Operation Response Network, composed of civic groups such as the Institute for Korean Historical Studies and the Justice and Memory Solidarity, also held a press conference in front of the Government Seoul Office, urging, "The NIS must reveal the truth and punish those responsible for the suspected human rights violations against Korean residents in Japan, under the pretext of supporting Japanese far-right groups and issuing passports."

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