[Editorial] Get Rid of Those Who Fawn Upon Power and Appointment of “Big Three”

At the beginning of this year, the government revised a law to let the heads of the National Intelligence Service, the Prosecution, the National Tax Service, and the National Police Agency, which had not been the subject of parliamentary confirmation hearings stipulated in the Constitution, go through a through review in the National Assembly. The reason is because those law enforcement agencies were regarded as the four prime actors serving for the interests of presidents who wield emperor-like power in Korea`s authoritarian governments. That is why those law enforcement agencies have been dubbed as “big 4” in regardless of the class of their positions.

If government agencies with an authority of collecting information, opening an investigation and carrying out criminal punishment, are added to political influences, they are venerable to corruptions and that notion is well demonstrated by those agencies` tarnished past reputations of “maid of power.” Apart from the head of the Prosecution whose tenure is not expired yet, appointments of the remaining “big three” and their confirmation hearings should be carried out so as to the purpose of the revised law which is aimed to prevent government agencies from power abuses and corruptions influenced by political power.

President Roh Moo-hyun said during a speech at the anniversary of the March 1 Independent Movement Day that government agencies which served the interests of the ruling governments should be reborn as an organization serving the public. Those who fawned over a president and his regime would lose ground. His speech can be interpreted that he is emphasizing those government agencies` independence from the government and political influences.

It is pity that with respect to the appointment of the NIS chief, Chung Wa Dae does not seem to share the view with the president. It is strange that although the President is searching for a figure with administrative career that can express contradict opinion with the President without political consideration, president`s aides are rather recommending political heavyweights who fully read the president`s mind and philosophy and exchange feelings with the president.

Reading the president`s mind is ultimately the same meaning with serving the interests of the ruling government. In addition, there isn`t a sharp difference between fawning upon a president and sharing feelings with the president. In this context, criteria for the selection of the head of the NIS is not different from those of the past successive governments, if president`s aides are insisting on naming political heavyweights as the chief of the intelligence agency. Against this backdrop, President Roh should name the intelligence agency`s chief in accordance with his conviction.

In addition, it might be right to reconsider their appointments if candidates for the heads of the NTS and the NPA that were announced yesterday are found any faults with their political neutrality as well as their integrity and qualification during their parliamentary hearings.