Former CIA Analyst Sue Mi Terry Charged with Acting as a Secret Agent for South Korea in Exchange for Luxury Gifts
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
5 minutes read. Updated 8:56AM GMT Wed, 17July, 2024
United States prosecutors have charged Sue Mi Terry, a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) analyst, for allegedly acting as a secret agent for South Korea in exchange for luxury gifts, according to the US Department of Justice. Terry, who served the US government from 2001 to 2011, allegedly passed confidential information to South Korean officials and lobbied on their behalf, as outlined in the indictment filed in a New York federal court on Monday.
Espionage Allegations and Luxury Inducements
Terry is accused of commencing her covert activities for South Korea in 2013, two years post her departure from US government service, continuing for a decade. In return, she received luxurious perks, including meals at Michelin-starred restaurants and expensive handbags. The indictment detailed that South Korean operative discreetly funneled $37,000 to a think tank where Terry was involved in a public policy program on Korea.
The indictment includes security camera footage of Terry meeting South Korean officials in Washington, DC, receiving items from upscale stores such as a $3,450 Louis Vuitton handbag, a $2,950 Bottega Veneta handbag, and a $2,845 Dolce & Gabbana coat.
Confession and Charges
The 31-page indictment reveals that Terry admitted to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) about providing information to South Korean intelligence. This included handwritten notes from an off-the-record meeting in June 2022 with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussing government policy on North Korea.
Terry faces charges for failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiracy to violate this law. “Despite engaging in extensive activities for and at the direction of South Korea’s government, Terry failed to register as a foreign agent with the Justice Department as required,” the prosecutors stated.
Legal Defense and International Reactions
Terry’s attorney, Lee Wolosky, refuted the charges, describing them as “unfounded” and a misrepresentation of Terry’s work as an independent scholar and analyst. “In fact, she was a harsh critic of the South Korean government during times this indictment alleges that she was acting on its behalf,” Wolosky argued. He expressed confidence that the facts would eventually demonstrate that the government had made a significant error.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service confirmed it was in communication with its US counterpart regarding the indictment.
Background and Career
Sue Mi Terry, a naturalized US citizen born in Seoul and raised in Virginia and Hawaii, held the position of deputy national intelligence officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council during her tenure in government. Following her government service, she transitioned to roles in various think tanks, including the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). A spokesperson from CFR stated that Terry has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and that the organization will fully cooperate with the investigation.
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For further reading on similar topics, visit Reuters and Department of Justice.
