The incoming Lee Myung-bak government will reportedly overhaul the agency’s human resources and management structure. This is in response to criticism that intelligence officers blindly followed what the Unification Ministry did, and agents acted as if they were diplomats and the heads of provincial governments.

The head of the intelligence office, Kim Man-bok, recently resigned over allegations of misconduct. Once his successor is appointed, the number of the agency’s divisions will fall from three to two by having 31 senior officials retire.

Multiple sources on the committee yesterday confirmed the reshuffle, which aims at setting forth the proper roles of the spy office and an overhaul.

The committee will also revive and reorganize informants in China who helped collect intelligence on North Korea through the 1990s. This is to prevent agents from blindly copying the Unification Ministry’s activities.

Likewise, the spy agency will have better resources under the Lee administration for conducting domestic intelligence and anti-espionage operations. Agents responsible for negotiations with North Korea will be reassigned to new roles.

Korea University professor Nam Seong-wuk, a key North Korea policy adviser to President-elect Lee, said, “We need to know what’s going on in North Korea, and the spy agency will focus on intelligence gathering and espionage operations. That way, we can solve diverse issues and problems including North Korea’s nuclear program.”

The intelligence division for overseas operations will concentrate on activities contributing to the national interest, including diplomacy to secure natural resources.

Intelligence bureau chiefs and agents, who have invited criticism for their bossy behavior in localities, will get new posts in anti-espionage and investigation operations against North Korea.