 "The case of a CIA analyst, accused of working for South Korea in exchange for Louis Vuitton bags")
Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and senior official at the White House National Security Council has been indicted on charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for South Korea.
The indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, alleges that Terry accepted luxury goods and expensive dinners in exchange for advocating South Korean government positions during media appearances, sharing nonpublic information, and facilitating access for South Korean officials to US government counterparts.
The luxury items included Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, and dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants. Additionally, Terry allegedly received over $37,000 in covert funding for a public policy program focused on Korean affairs. These activities reportedly began in 2013, two years after she left US government employment, and continued for a decade.
Who is Sue Mi Terry?
A Korean-American international relations scholar, Sue Mi Terry has been a prominent figure in the realm of East Asian affairs. Born in Seoul around 1972, Terry moved to the United States at age 12 after her father’s death from liver cancer.
She was raised in Hawaii and Virginia, eventually earning her B.A. in political science from New York University in 1993 and a PhD in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 2001.
Terry’s career in the US government spanned from 2001 to 2011, where she served as a senior analyst on Korean issues for the CIA and later as director for Korea, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs at the National Security Council under Presidents George W Bush and Barack Obama.
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Post-government, she held roles at various think tanks, including the Council on Foreign Relations, the Wilson Center, and Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute. Throughout her career, she has been recognised as an expert on North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.
Sue Mi Terry is married to Max Boot, a columnist for The Washington Post, and they reside in New York. She has been a frequent guest on TV, radio, and podcasts, and her insights have been widely quoted in media regarding East Asian politics.
What are the allegations against Sue Mi Terry?
The indictment claims that Terry’s covert work included passing handwritten notes from a private June 2022 meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken about US policy toward North Korea. Terry admitted to the FBI in a voluntary interview in June 2023 that she served as a source for South Korean intelligence, providing valuable information.
In a particularly notable allegation, the indictment states that Terry invited congressional staffers to a happy hour in DC, which was secretly funded by South Korean intelligence. The event, nominally hosted by the South Korean Embassy, allowed South Korean officials to potentially recruit US congressional staffers.
The indictment highlights that Terry’s alleged activities compromised the integrity of her expert testimonies before Congressional panels between 2016 and 2022, as she failed to disclose her covert work with South Korea. The charges against her include failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiring to violate the law.
Furthermore, Terry’s interactions with a Korean Foreign Ministry official in March 2023 allegedly involved her drafting an op-ed with information provided by the official, which was later published on The Washington Post’s website without disclosing the Korean government’s involvement.
What has the defence said?
Terry’s lawyer, Lee Wolosky, strongly denied the allegations, stating, “These allegations are unfounded and distort the work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and years of service to the United States.”
He highlighted the fact that Terry had not held a security clearance for over a decade and her views had been consistent, often critical of the South Korean government. “Once the facts are made clear it will be evident the government made a significant mistake,” Wolosky added.
South Korea is not a defendant in the case.
The Council on Foreign Relations, where Terry served as a senior fellow, placed her on unpaid administrative leave and pledged full cooperation with any investigation, reported Washington Post.
Honored to be rejoining @cfr_org in NYC as senior fellow for Korea studies. Thanks to @mikefroman, @JamesMLindsay & @shannonkoneil for the opportunity. Looking forward to joining a talented team, working on issues related to the Korean Peninsula & NE Asia. https://t.co/xTp2NujJtu
— Sue Mi Terry (@SueMiTerry) March 20, 2024
The Wilson Center confirmed Terry’s involvement in their Korea Program and Asia Program but stated they were not a target of the investigation.
With inputs from agencies
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