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Kwon Chin-ho Named Strong Candidate for NIS Director after Ko Young-koo Expresses Intention to Resign

Kwon Chin-ho Named Strong Candidate for NIS Director after Ko Young-koo Expresses Intention to Resign

Posted June. 02, 2005 06:43,   

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Reports on June 1 indicated that National Security Adviser Kwon Chin-ho is the prime candidate to succeed Ko Young-koo in the post of National Intelligence Service director. The latter recently expressed his intention to resign.

Cheong Wa Dae is conducting an independent background check on Kwon, and plans to formally announce the tentative appointment within the week, barring unforeseen discoveries. Until the new candidate is officially appointed as director after undergoing a National Assembly personnel hearing, Director Ko will continue in his duties.

Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Kim Man-soo stated that on May 20 or thereabouts, Director Ko verbally expressed his intention to resign at a meeting with President Roh Moo-hyun by saying, “Since the NIS reform and the investigation into past atrocities have gained momentum during my two years in office and my health has not been good, I would now like to rest.”



Jung-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com