Yoon Geonyoung: "Yoon Suk Yeol’s NIS Formed Taskforce to Conduct Civilian Surveillance Ahead of General Election"

"Formation of the 'Taskforce for Countering North Korean Influence Operations'"

"16 Weekly Reports Delivered to Kim Tae-hyo"

"Tracking of Over 30 Individuals Including Politicians and Religious Figures"

"Clear Violation of the Law...

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and the ruling party’s secretary of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, stated on August 20 that evidence had been found indicating that during the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had conducted extensive surveillance of politicians as well as other civilians.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly that morning, Assemblyman Yoon said, “The NIS under Yoon Suk-yeol carried out extensive surveillance of civilians, including politicians, and the results were even reported to the President.”

Yoon Geon-young, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea who has been nominated as the ruling party's Intelligence Committee secretary, held a press conference on the 19th at the National Assembly communication room, speaking about the suspicions of prior conspiracy for martial law by the Yoon Suk-yeol administration's National Intelligence Service and the organized involvement in martial law. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

According to Assemblyman Yoon, on January 3, 2024, the NIS reported to former President Yoon on the “Special Response Task Force Operation and Tracking Plan to Block North Korean Influence Operations,” and subsequently formed a separate task force. Yoon explained that the official name for this new organization was the “Task Force on Responding to North Korean Influence Operations,” with four divisions participating, including the security investigation division.

In particular, Assemblyman Yoon asserted that the task force submitted weekly reports—a total of 16 times—to Kim Tae-hyo, then the First Deputy Director of the Presidential Office National Security Office. Yoon stated, “Each week, the physical report was delivered directly to Deputy Director Kim Tae-hyo,” and added, “It is only natural to assume that they were reported to Yoon Suk-yeol as well.”

Regarding the content, Yoon said, under the heading “Trends in North Korean Influence Operations against the South,” the reports included details tracking the activities of figures in South Korea. Referring specifically to sections such as “Status of Domestic Followers” and “Countermeasures,” Yoon argued, “There were reports clearly documenting political trends unrelated to North Korea, such as claims by certain individuals calling for the impeachment of Yoon Suk-yeol.”

Assemblyman Yoon also stated that the scale of those under surveillance was significant. Starting with the seven “persons to be tracked” attached to the original task force operation plan, the total number of individuals mentioned in the weekly reports reached about 28.

Among those targeted, Yoon identified Yang Kyung-soo, President of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, and Kim Min-woong, leader of Candlelight Action. He added that there were further cases of political surveillance targeting current National Assembly members, with Democratic Party legislator Jin Sung-joon mentioned as a representative example.

He also raised suspicions regarding information gathering on religious leaders. Assemblyman Yoon stated that in November 2023, on the occasion of the passing of Buddhist monk Ja-seung, both the anti-terrorism division under the NIS's First Deputy Director and the security investigation division under the Second Deputy Director were dispatched to the site and a related report was compiled afterward. He added, “Even the staff members at the time reported that they did not know why they were suddenly sent to the scene of Monk Ja-seung’s passing.” Yoon questioned, “We need to clarify why NIS officials had to be dispatched in response to the death of a religious figure, and who gave, and how they gave, such instructions.”

Assemblyman Yoon suggested that these suspicions of civilian surveillance could be linked to the December 3 Martial Law incident in 2024. Appearing on MBC radio’s “Kim Jongbae's Focus” on the morning of the same day, he revealed, “I confirmed there was a document, reviewed by the NIS as early as September 2024—about three months before the declaration of martial law—that examined how the NIS would exercise counterespionage authority during martial law.”

Yoon emphasized, “In September 2024, the NIS was discussing ‘how it would be appropriate to exercise counterespionage authority in the event of martial law,’” arguing, “There was absolutely no reason for such a review.” He continued, “Someone must have known,” implying that the then NIS leadership was already aware of the possibility of martial law.

Regarding the NIS response on the day of the December 3 Martial Law, Assemblyman Yoon asserted that documents were compiled by several departments detailing the work each would handle autonomously, and even included a list of four NIS agents to be dispatched to the Martial Law Command and Joint Investigation Headquarters. He stated, “Even after the National Assembly voted to lift martial law, the NIS compiled further lists of personnel to send to joint task forces, and contacted the Joint Chiefs of Staff to ask, ‘We have completed our lists—what should we do now?’”

He stressed, “The NIS is a critically important intelligence agency responsible for the security of the Republic of Korea,” but also criticized, “The person who reduced it to a shabby organization conducting background investigations of its political opponents is none other than Yoon Suk-yeol, the main culprit behind unlawful insurrection.” However, Assemblyman Yoon noted that the specific details, chain of command, and reporting lines for the allegations of civilian surveillance and advance preparations for martial law that he raised would require confirmation through further investigation and inspection.

Assemblyman Yoon concluded, “The first step toward NIS reform is uncovering the truth,” adding, “Only by investigating thoroughly can we make a new start. I will see the pursuit of the truth through to the end.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.