South Korea's ANSP (Agency for National Security Planning, commonly referred to as "KCIA") has been used as an instrument of political suppression. This agency is mistakenly likened to the US CIA, but in actuality, it is patterned after Stalin's KGB. It would be more appropriate to call it "KKGB" than "KCIA".
ANSP's ancestry goes back to the Tonghak Peasant War of the 19th century. Since then various rulers of Korea have been using political terrorism backed by foreign powers even to the extreme of selling out Korea to Japanese colonization. It should be recalled that the ruling elite of the Chosun Dynasty wanted Japan to take over. Japan did not invade and occupy Korea, as claimed by some S Korean historians (presumably to cover up the shameful act of the pro-Japanese rulers.)
During 1945-48, the US Army CIC (Counter Intelligence Corps) recruited several thousand Koreans who had worked for the Japanese police prior to 1945 hunting down Korean nationalists. These former Japanese police and informants were organized into ROKA CIC ("KCIC") in 1948. The "KCIC" became "KCIA" after the Korean War and later "ANSP".
Whatever the cover name, the main mission of these folks has been suppression and elimination of political opponents of whoever occupying the 'Blue House': King Kojong, Emperor Hirohito, Doug MacArthur, Rhee Syngman, Park Jung Hee, Chun Doo Whan, Roh Tae Woo, and Kim Young Sam. (two 'weak' presidents, Choi Gyu Hwa and Jang Myon, were thrown out in coups).
Will Kim Dae Jung maintain this "glorious" tradition or get thrown out?