Published : Sept. 19, 2017 - 11:17
A former state spy agency official has been arrested for running a cyber smear campaign against a liberal candidate during the 2012 presidential election, Seoul prosecutors said Tuesday.
Min Byung-joo, former leader of a psychological warfare unit at the National Intelligence Service, is being accused of paying billions to civilians to write negative internet comments about then-liberal candidate Moon Jae-in and favorable comments about then-conservative candidate Park Geun-hye.
Min Byung-joo (Yonhap)
Park won the election that year. She has since been impeached for her involvement in a high-profile scandal. Moon was elected as the 19th president of South Korea this year.
Min reportedly admitted to running the cyber team, but claimed he had no knowledge of politically biased comments being posted online.
Min is being charged with loss of state funds and perjury. He is also accused of lying to the court as a witness in the trial of former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon, who has been convicted of masterminding the operation during his term of office between 2009 and 2013.
(khnews@heraldcorp.com)