Investigations into Ideological Beliefs of Public Officials and Professors Could End

Certain controversial items that are investigated when high-ranking public officials, professors, judges, and prosecutors are appointed will be eliminated.

The items include the relationship between one’s ideology and that of a person around him or her, one’s place of origin and place of registration, one’s religion, and one’s overseas travel.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) said on April 25 that it arranged a revised bill based on the above-mentioned matter and is in discussion with the relevant departments, including the National Police Agency.

An official of the NIS noted that even though it was an official order from President, the NIS would complete the procedure of revising the bill in the first half of this year after being inspected by the Ministry of Government Legislation.

In addition to the items under investigation, the revised bill also decreased the scope of investigations from public officials ranking fourth-level or above to those ranking third-level or above.

In addition, the revised bill reduced the subjects of investigation from every university’s president, dean, professor and assistant professor, to national university presidents, and deans. It also excluded elected public officials, including provincial governors, deputy governors, mayors, deputy mayors, and executive of state-run companies and government-managed companies.

The enforcement regulation enacted by presidential order (No. 4) in 1964 was entirely revised in 1969, and partially changed in 1974, and 1981. If it were revised this time, it would be the first amendment to the regulation in 24 years.

Although the NIS and other relevant departments decided to delete the phrase, “the personnel director of the NIS needs,” among the subjects for investigation, the phrase, “The personnel heads of each department require,” was retained.

Consequently, public officials involved in special types of occupation, such as public officials at NIS, policemen, and soldiers, will be more likely to be subject to investigations into their ideology in the process of examining their identity, according to the directors’ decision.

taewon_ha@donga.com