'Former NIS Agent' Yuseong Ok, New Chairman of the National Security Strategy Institute

"Real Prison Sentence for 'NIS Political Manipulation'... Pardon at Last Year-End
Han Seok-hee, Yonsei University Professor, Appointed as New Director"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Yoo Seong-ok, former head of the Psychological Warfare Unit at the National Intelligence Service (NIS) who was embroiled in the 'NIS political manipulation' case, was inaugurated as the new chairman of the Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) on the 8th.

Newly appointed Chairman Yoo, a native of Goseong, Gyeongnam, graduated from Korea University and is regarded as a North Korea expert who worked in NIS departments related to North Korea from 1986 during the National Security Planning Agency (NSPA) era until 2012. After leaving the NIS, he served as the director of the Institute for National Security Strategy from February 2012 to November 2014, and after the organization was reorganized, he served as the president of the Institute for National Security Strategy until July 2016.

Yuseong-ok, New Chairman of the National Security Strategy Institute

He is especially known for handling issues ranging from North Korea's nuclear program to inter-Korean negotiations and psychological warfare during the Lee Myung-bak administration, and visited North Korea eight times as a representative to the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear issue. During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, he drafted the agreement for the inter-Korean summit.

However, during the MB administration, he was indicted under the Moon Jae-in government for colluding with former NIS Director Won Sei-hoon and others to post articles supporting the government and ruling party and opposing the opposition party on the internet, thus interfering in politics, and was sentenced to prison. He was later reinstated after being specially pardoned alongside former President Lee Myung-bak in December last year.

Chairman Yoo expressed his feelings, saying, "I worked as the institute's president for about four and a half years, and I am grateful and deeply moved to return to a place like my hometown. I consider this an order to dedicate myself to the security of the Republic of Korea with a more humble attitude."

Also, Professor Han Seok-hee of Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies was inaugurated on the same day as the successor to former President Kim Ki-jung, who retired in July last year.

Newly appointed President Han has served as the dean of Yonsei University Graduate School of International Studies, Consul General in Shanghai, China, and a specialist member of the Foreign Affairs and Security Subcommittee of the Presidential Committee for Unification Preparation. He is known to have participated in formulating external strategies while working in the Global Vision Committee of the People Power Party Central Election Campaign Headquarters during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s presidential candidacy.

Meanwhile, the Institute for National Security Strategy is a government-funded research institute under the NIS that conducts research in the fields of diplomacy, security, and defense as requested by the government.

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