ENTERTAINMENT
Hyun Bin Appointed as 'Honorary Counterintelligence Agent' by South Korea's National Intelligence Service
On the 7th, South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced Hyun Bin's appointment. This initiative aims to educate the public on the precise concept and significance of 'counterintelligence,' which has often been narrowly understood as merely 'detecting and apprehending North Korean spies.'
On February 26, the National Assembly amended Article 98 of the Criminal Act, expanding the scope of espionage charges from 'enemy states' to 'foreign countries.' This amendment establishes a legal framework to protect South Korea from sophisticated espionage activities by foreign entities, not just North Korea.
Counterintelligence encompasses all activities aimed at identifying and thwarting foreign intelligence operations that threaten national security and interests, beyond merely detecting spies.
Hyun Bin portrayed a National Intelligence Service agent in the 2023 film 'The Negotiation,' where he fought tirelessly to rescue Korean hostages. He plans to engage in various activities to promote the importance of the NIS and counterintelligence efforts.
An NIS official stated, “With the increasing frequency of incidents threatening national survival, such as the leakage of advanced technology and defense industry secrets by foreign entities, the importance of counterintelligence is growing.” The official added, “The NIS, alongside 'Honorary Counterintelligence Agent' Hyun Bin, will actively meet public expectations through thorough counterintelligence activities following the 'espionage law amendment.'”
By Taeyuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr
