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Cho Sang-joon, head of the National Intelligence Service, a former prosecutor and a close aide to President Yoon Seok-yeol, suddenly resigned.

The exact reason has not been ascertained.

However, it is known that the successor has also been appointed by the prosecution.



Reporter Kang Cheong-wan reports.



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In June, President Yoon Seok-yeol appointed Cho Sang-joon, a former prosecutor, as the head of the Planning and Coordination Office of the National Intelligence Service.



Along with Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon, Financial Supervisory Service President Lee Bok-hyun, and Presidential Secretary Jin-woo Joo, he was evaluated to have clearly revealed the direction of personnel management by filling key positions in major power agencies with former prosecutors close to him.



In fact, immediately after his appointment, the former head of the National Intelligence Service has been driving a strong renewal drive for the National Intelligence Service by promoting re-investigation of cases related to the former government, such as the shooting of a public official in the West Sea and the forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen to North Korea.



Then, about four months after his inauguration, Cho submitted his sudden resignation yesterday (25th), one day before the National Intelligence Service audit.



The route was also delivered directly to the presidential office without going through the director of the National Intelligence Service, which is unusual.



[Rep. Sang-beom Yoo/People's Power Rep. (Secretary of National Assembly Intelligence Committee): It has been confirmed that Director Cho Sang-joon did not directly call the president to express



his resignation .]

There was also an interpretation that President Yoon's immediate resignation was 'de facto sacked' for issues related to public service discipline.



Inside and outside the National Intelligence Service, there were also rumors that Cho had recently had a conflict with officials from the National Intelligence Service over NIS personnel.



It is known that Kim Nam-woo, a lawyer from the prosecution, was appointed as the new head of the keynote office.



President Yoon's personnel policy of Jung Yong, a former prosecutor, is maintained as it is, and critics are also expected, mainly from the opposition, for placing former prosecutors in key positions in powerful institutions.



(Video coverage: Cho Chun-dong, Yang Doo-won, video editing: Choi Jin-hwa)