Parties Urge Reform of NIS and Prosecution

The political circle urged the reinvestigation of the `three venture gate` which raised the suspicion of the high-ranking officials of the National Intelligence Service (NIS)`s involvement, and called for complete reforms of the NIS and the prosecution.

Chairman of the New Millennium Democratic Party (NMDP), Han Gwang-Ok, said, ``The party does not have any intention to conceal any corruption or suspicion. And if someone is found to be related with wrongdoings, the government should ask responsibility and punish.`` The Spokesperson of the ruling NMDP, Lee Nak-Yeon, said, ``The NIS officials` involvement to these scandals is deplorable, and the prosecution`s investigation was not performed thoroughly.``

Kwon Chul-Hyun, the Spokesperson of the Grand National Party (GNP), said, ``President Kim Dae-Jung should recognize that the NIS and the prosecution consist a corrupted connection.`` And he asked President Kim for the dismissal of the Director General of NIS, Shin Kuhn, and the Public Prosecutor General, Shin Seung-Nam, and for a public apology.

In the Forum of `Reconciliation and Advance` a group of reform-minded lawmakers from the ruling and the opposition parties, Rep. Chun Jung-Bae of the NMDP suggested 10 measures for the reform of the prosecution, such as ▲the deliberative institutionalization of the prosecution`s personnel committee ▲ establishment of the `investigation office for high ranking government officials` corruption` under direct control of the President ▲ the systematization of the independent counsel ▲ introduction of civil controlling system on the prosecution`s indictment right ▲ establishment of the guidelines and detailed rules for the prosecutor`s case management.

Receiving a report from the Director General of NIS, Shin Kuhn, about the replacement of Kim Eun-Sung, Deputy Director General of the NIS, and the personnel reform plan of the NIS, President Kim emphasized the necessity of the NIS`s internal reform in order to concentrate on its proper mission, on 16th.

An official of Cheong Wa Dae said, ``Even mere mentioning of the NIS officials` names in relation to the scandals is a serious problem, thus, the personnel reform is an urgent task for the NIS.``

Hyung-Kwon Pu issong@donga.com