Prosecutors Expand Wiretapping Investigation

Prosecutors investigating the National Intelligence Service (NIS) wiretapping case reportedly plan to summon and question Shin Kuhn and Lim Dong-won (former NIS chiefs during the Kim Dae-jung administration) this week for wiretapping allegedly carried out by Kim Eun-sung, the former head of the service’s domestic affairs.

The prosecution obtained statements from current and former employees of the NIS saying that while in office, Shin and Lim received reports regarding usage records of the agency’s cable-broadcasting network-based wiretapping devices (R2), and that both also obtained wiretapped information in the form of communication intelligence reports from the division in charge of bugging (then known as Department Eight).

The prosecution also found that the wiretapped information reached Cheong Wa Dae through the NIS head and a small group of powerful figures in the Kim Dae-jung administration, and plans to extend their investigation to former presidential staff members.

The prosecution again summoned three high ranking officials, including the head of the then Department Eight and Kim Eun-sung, who was put into custody Monday, in order to further investigate wiretapping suspicions.

The prosecution is also trying to figure out if Kim carried out systematic eavesdropping activities on opposition party members’ mobile phones.

The prosecution is also working on the suspicion that the NIS might have wiretapped prosecution investigators and officials in order to keep the track of the investigation process of the Jin Seung-hyun-gate loan scandal from 2000 to 2001.

woogija@donga.com