Former CIA Analyst Indicted for Alleged Spying for South Korea with Lavish Gifts

A former analyst from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is facing indictment for allegedly spying on behalf of South Korea in exchange for luxury gifts, in a case brought forward by the US Department of Justice.

Sue Mi Terry, who previously served in government roles including the National Security Council, has been charged with secretly providing confidential information to South Korea and lobbying for their interests. The indictment, filed in a New York federal court, alleges that Terry engaged in these activities for a period of a decade.

According to the charges, Terry began her covert role as an agent for South Korea in 2013, post her tenure in the US government. In return for her services, she received lavish gifts, including high-end meals at Michelin-starred restaurants and luxury fashion items, such as designer handbags and coats.

The indictment contains photographic evidence of Terry meeting with South Korean officials in Washington, DC, where she allegedly received expensive gifts valued at thousands of dollars. These gifts are said to include items like a Dolce & Gabbana coat, Louis Vuitton handbag, and more.

The charges also detail that Terry admitted to the FBI of being a source of information for South Korean intelligence. This involvement reportedly included passing on handwritten notes from a private meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken concerning North Korea policy in June 2022.

The indictment accuses Terry of failing to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiring to violate this law. Prosecutors assert that despite the extent of her activities on behalf of South Korea, she did not comply with the registration requirements set by the Justice Department.

Terry’s legal representative, Lee Wolosky, has refuted the charges, labeling them as baseless and contending that they misrepresent her work as an independent scholar and analyst. Wolosky emphasizes that Terry had been critical of the South Korean government during periods outlined in the indictment.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service has stated that it is in communication with its US counterparts following the indictment. Terry, a naturalized US citizen born in Seoul, has worked in various government roles and think tanks, including the Council on Foreign Relations.

The Council on Foreign Relations has placed Terry on unpaid administrative leave and expressed willingness to cooperate with any investigations related to the indictment, as stated by a spokesperson to Reuters.