NIS Director Nominee Ko Not Properly Qualified

The parliamentary intelligence committee April 23 adopted a report Wednesday finding National Intelligence Service (NIS) director nominee Ko Young-koo inappropriate for the position. The National Assembly is expected to send the report to President Roh Moo-hyun after presenting it at the parliamentary plenary session scheduled for April 29.

The parliamentary committee held a general meeting at the National Assembly and exchanged opinions on the findings of the parliamentary hearing on the NIS director nominee. The hearing report included that the NIS nominee has little knowledge and experience in the area. The report also took the issue with his ideological inclination by citing his past involvement in activities demanding for the abolishment of the National Security Law and for the release of jailed North Korean spy Kim Rak-jung.

The report, submitted after a confirmation hearing Tuesday, also said Sangi Uninversity professor Suh Dong-man, tapped to head the planning and coordination office of the NIS, is not properly qualified.

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) held a meeting of the party`s supreme council members and urged NIS director nominee Ko and prof. Suh to resign by saying, “They are not right persons to assume the positions.”

The GNP made a decision that if President Roh pushes ahead with his appointments with regardless of lawmakers` opposition to the nominations, the party will take a proper action.

GNP acting chairman Park Hee-tai also urged the President to withdraw his decision on the nominations by saying, “Although the findings of the parliamentary hearing don`t have any legal bindings to say yes or no to the President`s nominations, those findings have a political significance. Therefore, the President should respect lawmakers` opinions.”

Meanwhile, Chung Wa Dae is planning to hold a meeting of presidential secretaries and aides which will be presided over by the President on April 24 to deal with the findings of the confirmation hearing which said the nominee is not fully qualified for the position.

Senior presidential secretary for political affairs Moon

Jae-in said, “Although the parliamentary findings of the hearing don`t have any legal bindings to be followed, taking the purpose of the parliamentary hearing into account, the President will respect the opinion of the National Assembly as much as possible. However, the President will decide his position on the matter after fully reviewing the findings because which are nothing new to the president.”

Senior officials at the presidential office said that if lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties maintain professor Suh is not appropriate for the job, the President might withdraw his nomination.