| Abstract: | Korean intelligence services under the new civilian government continue to be deeply involved in the nation's domestic politics, to operate frequently outside the law, and to abuse peoples' rights in the conduct of investigations. The Korean people and members of the ruling class are demanding a revamping of Korean intelligence services. Reform of the intelligence services is long over due. The expenditures incurred for intelligence organizations should be reduced. The intelligence organizations' primary functions should be readjusted because military threats have diminished. The purpose of this article is to investigate particular problems associated with the Agency for National Security Planning (NSP). The paper describes the Korean intelligence community and discusses the origins, functions, and characteristics of the central Korean intelligence organization. The causes of the NSP's problems are addressed. Finally, suggestions are offered on the basis of the specific problems discussed to reform the Korean intelligence services. While open and direct research could not be conducted on this issue because of NSP's policy to operate secretly, it is still possible on the basis of public sources to evaluate problems of the NSP and to offer suggestions for NSP's reorganization. |
