A poster encouraging reporting of national security-related information. ⒸNational Intelligence Service 

Police have raided and searched the National Intelligence Service (NIS), the last bastion of South Korea's security.

The police announced on the 9th that they are conducting a compulsory investigation into allegations that the NIS attempted to influence the 2023 Seoul Gangseo District Mayor by-election.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Anti-Corruption Investigation Division launched a full-scale investigation after a complaint was filed alleging that the NIS's announcement the day before the by-election, stating that "the National Election Commission's (NEC) vote counting results could be hacked," constituted "election interference."

Election interference in this context refers to the NIS's announcement being a maneuver designed to create a situation favorable to the candidate of the People Power Party, which was the ruling party at the time.

At the time, the NIS announced on October 10th, the day before the by-election, inspection results indicating that a virtual hacker could register phantom voters or alter vote counts.

Although the case seemed to be resolved with the Democratic Party candidate winning the election, the investigation was launched in earnest in October 2025 when Park Sun-won, a member of the Democratic Party and a former NIS official, filed a complaint with the police.

The reason for the complaint was that the NIS initially reported finding "no issues with the NEC's security," but a second report, directly contradicting the first, stating that "hacking is possible," was prepared under the leadership of former NIS Director Kim Kyu-hyun.

Police stated, "We executed a search and seizure warrant targeting the NIS early this month and secured data related to the 'NEC security inspection results'," adding, "Former Director Kim has been booked on charges including abuse of power and obstruction of the exercise of rights, and has been banned from leaving the country."

By Im Yo-hee