Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung on Friday underscored the importance of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) maintaining its original mandate, expressing regret over its historical misuse for political ends, according to the presidential office. This marked his initial visit to the NIS since assuming office in June and was his first policy briefing visit to a government entity, as shared by presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung.

According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee addressed the agency's past, noting that while most of its employees are committed to serving the nation, there have been isolated incidents of political exploitation, such as fabricated espionage cases. "It is regrettable that the vast majority of you are doing your best for the nation and our people. Yet, there are exceptional situations where the agency had been politically misused, including fabricated espionage cases. When that happens, all employees end up being criticized," President Lee remarked. He expressed his hope that such misuse would not recur.

President Lee emphasized the significance of the NIS by selecting it as the first government agency to visit, highlighting the profound impact of intelligence operations on national governance. He urged the agency to persist in its entrusted roles to gain respect as an institution.

On the same day, former NIS chief Cho Tae-yong was indicted by a special counsel team for his alleged involvement in a failed martial law bid orchestrated by former President Yoon Suk Yeol last December. President Lee highlighted the potential of the NIS to achieve remarkable outcomes when functioning correctly and called for a stronger crackdown on domestic drug trafficking networks.

During the briefing, NIS Director Lee Jong-seok pointed out that half of the agency's 16 former chiefs, including Cho, had faced imprisonment for various offenses, including illegal wiretapping and online opinion manipulation. He committed to restoring the agency's integrity and ensuring its service to the public interest.

Furthermore, President Lee made history by becoming the first sitting president to visit the NIS National Space Security Center during his tour of the agency.