[단독] "'한덕수 캠프' 합류하는 전직 국정원 인사는 국내정보 담당 간부 출신"

[코리아헤럴드=김아린 기자] 대선 출마가 임박한 것으로 관측되는 한덕수 대통령 권한대행 국무총리 측이 동원한 것으로 알려진 전직 국가정보원 직원은 '국내정보'를 담당하던 간부 출신인 것으로 전해졌다.
국정원 소식에 밝은 더불어민주당 고위 관계자는 30일 코리아헤럴드를 만나 "한 대행 측의 대선 준비에 합류한 전 국정원 직원은 국내정보 파트에 오래 몸담았고, 부서장급인 1급을 마지막으로 퇴직한 인물"이라고 밝혔다.
민주당 고위 관계자는 해당 전 국정원 직원에 대해 "국내정보가 폐지되기 전에 이미 퇴직한 'OB'"라면서, "국정원이 아직 정치에 관여하던 시절 현역으로 대선을 여러 번 뛰어 본 경험자"라고 말했다.
민주당 고위 관계자는 해당 전 국정원 직원이 "국내정보 'IO(담당관)'로 활동하면서 선거를 뛴 경험이 있는 만큼, (캠프에서) 상황을 종합하는 역할을 맡게 되지 않을까 생각한다"며 "딱히 (한 대행의) 전력에 큰 도움이 되진 않을 것"이라고 했다. 그러면서 "국정원에 있을 때 중심에 있던 인물은 아니었다"고 평가했다.
앞서 김민석 민주당 수석최고위원은 같은 날 오전 기자회견을 열고 한 대행이 국정원 출신 인사로 상황실을 꾸려 대선 준비를 했다고 주장했다.
(arin@heraldcorp.com)
[Exclusive] Ex-domestic intelligence agent of NIS joining 'Han Duck-soo campaign': Democratic Party of Korea
A former National Intelligence Service official who is reportedly aiding acting President Han Duck-soo's supposed bid for the June 3 presidential election was a top-level domestic intelligence agent, according to a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker.
The Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Korea Herald on Thursday that the former NIS agent was a "seasoned domestic intelligence officer" who is "well-versed" in the workings of elections.
According to the lawmaker, the former agent had the highest rank for a South Korean public official, and had retired before domestic intelligence operations were scrapped at the NIS under the Moon Jae-in administration.
The former agent, the lawmaker said, had likely accumulated contacts with politicians while working in domestic intelligence. The agent is "someone who undoubtedly has in-depth knowledge of how elections work," the lawmaker added.
Earlier on Thursday, Rep. Kim Min-seok, who is on the Democratic Party's supreme council, claimed he received "tips from a credible source" that a former NIS official was about to join the acting president's rumored campaign team. The acting president has not made his presidential bid official.

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