The Democratic Alliance, a satellite party of the Democratic Party of Korea, is filling its list of candidates for proportional representation with individuals known for their pro-North Korea and anti-U.S. stances. This follows an agreement by the Progressive Party, the Basic Income Party and the United Political Citizens Coalition, groups known for anti-U.S. and pro-North Korean tendencies, to allocate slots for their candidates, with each group endorsing three, three, and four candidates, respectively, for secure positions.
The three candidates confirmed by the far-left Progressive Party are all former members of the Democratic Labor Party and the People’s Party. Both parties have previously engaged in activities within the pro-North Korea faction of the Gyeonggi Eastern Alliance. Notably, the Progressive Party is the successor to the now-defunct Unified Progressive Party, which was dissolved after lawmaker Lee Seok-ki was convicted of plotting an armed rebellion to overthrow the South Korean government in case of a war with North Korea.
Among the 12 candidates who passed the first round of proportional candidate screening by the council were figures such as the former Korean Confederation of Trade Unions head who published a controversial “unification textbook” praising the Kim family’s rule and a civil defense attorney advocating for the abolition of the National Security Act. Discussions of unity between the Progressive Party and the Democratic Party in certain districts hint at the possible return of key Unified Progressive Party members to the National Assembly of Korea.
In response to these developments, Han Dong-hoon, the interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, announced plans to immediately push for a legal amendment that reinstates the counterintelligence investigative authority of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) upon winning the April general elections. The NIS’ counterintelligence investigative authority refers to the legal power to conduct investigations against communist activities or threats.
“This has become increasingly necessary as Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung resorts to offering the mainstream Democratic Party as a platform for the pro-North Korea factions of the Unified Progressive Party to protect his interests,” said Han.
The decision by the former Moon Jae-in administration to transfer counterintelligence investigation rights from the NIS to the police, a change that became effective last January, is already proving problematic. The newly established security investigation unit within the police force is understaffed, with only 142 employees, and the head of the unit has no experience leading counterintelligence investigations. The number of counterintelligence investigators in city and provincial police departments has also been bolstered, but half of the officers in charge have less than three years of experience in counterintelligence investigations.
The current situation raises the alarming possibility that pro-North Korea figures who gain seats at the National Assembly could potentially access, demand, or even leak sensitive security information from the NIS, the Ministry of National Defense, prosecutors, and the police. Before he was imprisoned, Lee Seok-ki had demanded military secrets such as the joint U.S.-South Korea national defense plan and the AH-X attack helicopter program. In the 21st National Assembly, an opposition lawmaker’s aide requested more than 700 classified military documents.
Given the current limitations of the police in conducting espionage investigations, especially those related to the political domain, reinstating the NIS’ counterintelligence investigative authority after the general election should be a top priority.
