Debate grows over domestic intelligence role in South Korea

March 16 (Asia Today) -- Debate is growing in South Korea over how to manage domestic intelligence gathering after the country's main spy agency relinquished that responsibility and police moved to fill the gap.

Critics warn that concentrating domestic intelligence functions within the police could raise concerns about excessive authority and possible human rights violations.

Calls to abolish the police intelligence division have resurfaced in recent years. Civil society groups and some politicians argue that allowing the police to dominate domestic intelligence could increase the risk of surveillance targeting civilians.

At the same time, security analysts say domestic intelligence collection cannot be neglected as threats such as counterespionage, terrorism and extremism continue to evolve.

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South Korea previously assigned domestic intelligence responsibilities to the National Intelligence Service, but reforms removed that function from the agency. Police have since taken on many related responsibilities.

Some analysts now argue that the country should establish a separate agency dedicated to domestic intelligence.

Observers frequently cite models in Europe. In the United Kingdom, domestic security intelligence is handled by MI5, formally known as the Security Service.

The agency's authorities are governed by legislation including the Security Service Act and the Investigatory Powers Act and are subject to oversight by the Investigatory Powers Commissioner's Office.

Intrusive measures such as surveillance require both ministerial approval and judicial authorization.

Germany operates a similar system through the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, known as BfV, which works alongside intelligence offices in the country's 16 states.

In both countries domestic intelligence agencies operate separately from police forces and focus on national security threats including espionage, terrorism and extremism.

Police in those systems concentrate on criminal investigations and law enforcement while intelligence agencies focus on information collection and analysis.

The agencies also lack powers such as arrest or detention, leaving those functions to police and prosecutors.

Experts say this separation of roles helps protect civil liberties while maintaining strong national security monitoring.

Bae Jeong-seok, a professor at Sungkyunkwan University's Graduate School of National Strategy, said South Korea may need to consider a similar model.

"South Korea is effectively the only country without a dedicated domestic intelligence agency," Bae said.

He added that responsibility has already shifted away from the National Intelligence Service and that the role does not fully match the traditional mission of the police.

"Because of that, there is growing need for a separate institution dedicated to domestic intelligence," he said.

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260316010004742