[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.