Koh Young-Gu Named as NIS Director and Song Doo-Whan as Special Counsel

President Roh Moo-hyun Mar.26 named Koh Young-gu, lawyer who served as the first president of `Minbyun` (Lawyers for a Democratic Society) as his choice for the director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). Song Kyung-hee, Chung Wa Dae spokesperson, explained the President`s choice in a briefing, “Koh Young-Gu has served as the first chairman of Lawyers for a Democratic Society and chairman of Korea Human Rights Network. He is a reform-minded human rights lawyer and suitable for the position facing a difficult task to redefine the NIS` status and role in the participatory government.” The human rights lawyer will take office after the National Assembly`s confirmation hearing on his qualification.

The president also appointed Song Doo-whan, who served as chairman of `Minbyun` (Lawyers for a Democratic Society), as a special counsel tasked with shedding light to the alleged cash-for-summit deal between South and North Korea in 2000.

With regard to his career as an outside director of the Korea Exchange Bank that was used as a channel to transfer the Hyundai Group`s secret cash to North Korea, spokesperson Song Kyung-hee said, “Although the KEB was a main creditor bank of Hyundai Merchant Marine, it rejected extending a loan. The government personnel management team concluded even if the bank`s involvement is proved to be true, it was a technical issue, so there would have been a slim chance that he interfered in the process as an outside director,” the spokesperson said.

The Appointee for an independent counsel will launch a full-scale probe into the secret cash payment case around May. 14 when he forms a investigation team after a preparation period.

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com