‘NIS posted slanderous comments about Roh’s death’

The South Korean spy agency posted slanderous online comments about former President Roh Moo-hyun immediately after he committed suicide in 2009, lawmaker Jin Sun-mee of the main opposition Democratic Party claimed Wednesday.

Jin said officials at the National Intelligence Service posted hundreds of comments criticizing Roh and the commemoration of the late president by his supporters, citing criminal records concerning the NIS intervention in the presidential elections provided by the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office.

Among the comments were: “We shouldn’t elect someone (Roh) who is mentally unstable as the leader,” “He received bribes and killed himself, now is he a martyr?” “I wonder why Nomhyun (a derogatory term for Roh) is regretting after his death? Dear leftist commies, please watch your step while you’re still alive.”

According to the data from the prosecutors, the posting of malicious comments started in February 2009, around the time former NIS chief Won Sei-hoon took office. Won is suspected of meddling in last December’s presidential election, and has been indicted without detention on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Contents of other online comments included defense of then President Lee Myung-bak and the ruling Saenuri Party, along with criticism of opposition figures.

“This effectively reveals the systematic political intervention by the NIS over the past four years. Authorities must conduct a thorough investigation to set the agency right,” Jin said.

By Yoon Min-sik()