National Intelligence Service Nominee Lee Jong-seok Approved by National Assembly

On June 23, the National Assembly's Intelligence Committee approved the confirmation report for Lee Jong-seok, the nominee for the Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS). This marks the first successful confirmation hearing under the administration of President Lee Jae-myung. The committee convened a full meeting where both ruling and opposition parties reached a consensus on the report. Prior to this, a four-hour confirmation hearing was held on June 19, during which Lee faced questions regarding his views on North Korea, foreign policy, and his history of traffic violations.

Park Sun-won, the Democratic Party's representative on the committee, expressed concerns about the potential impact of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as direct U.S. strikes on Iran, on the international economy. He emphasized the importance of having a fully staffed security team in the Lee Jae-myung administration, especially with the NIS director position still vacant.

On the other hand, Lee Seong-gwon, the representative from the People Power Party, acknowledged concerns regarding Lee Jong-seok's perceived pro-North Korea stance. However, he noted that with the ongoing war in Ukraine and the possibility of North Korean troop deployments, it was crucial to avoid leaving a gap in national security leadership, leading to their support for the confirmation.

Additionally, the Intelligence Committee is set to receive a briefing from the NIS regarding the Middle East situation as early as June 26. Lee Seong-gwon stated that the international situation is rapidly evolving, necessitating urgent updates for the committee. Park Sun-won also highlighted the need for comprehensive reports on various issues, including the international dynamics in Iran and the Middle East, ensuring that there will be extensive questioning and insights from the NIS director during the upcoming discussions.