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Sue Mi Terry, a former White House and CIA official, has been indicted on charges of working as an unregistered agent for the South Korean government. 

In an indictment unsealed on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, Terry is accused of advocating for South Korean policy positions. She also allegedly disclosed nonpublic U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence officers and facilitated access for South Korean officials to their U.S. counterparts.

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Sue Mi Terry

Born in Seoul and raised in Virginia, Terry served as a senior CIA analyst from 2001 to 2008. She then became the director of Korean, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC) from 2008 to 2009. She served under both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.

Terry has done Ted Talks, directed seminars and is cited as an expert on the Korean Peninsula. She has been cited as an expert on the Korean Peninsula.

In 2021, she became director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy at the Wilson Center.

Indictment

The indictment claims that South Korean intelligence officers provided Terry with luxury items such as Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, and over $37,000 in covert funding for a public policy program on Korean affairs that she ran. 

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan has charged Terry with failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiring to violate that law. 

Role in Foreign Relations

Her activities as an unregistered agent allegedly began in 2013, two years after she left U.S. government employment. And that her activities continued for a decade.

Terry is currently a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, specializing in East Asia and the Korean Peninsula. She has testified before Congressional panels multiple times

Terry did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but her lawyer, Lee Wolosky, vehemently denied the charges. 

"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," Wolosky stated. "In fact, she was a harsh critic of the South Korean government during the times this indictment alleges that she was acting on its behalf. Once the facts are made clear, it will be evident that the government made a significant mistake."

Investigation Continues

The Council on Foreign Relations has placed Terry on unpaid administrative leave and expressed its intention to cooperate with any investigation.

South Korea is not a defendant in the case, and its Washington embassy has not responded to requests for comment. Similarly, the office of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams in Manhattan has not commented on the indictment.

Despite the charges, Terry remains a prominent figure in media, frequently appearing on TV, radio, and podcasts. She was featured on CNN with Kaitlan Collins as recently as last month. 

The DA claims that in a voluntary FBI interview in June 2023, Terry acknowledged that she was a "source" for South Korea's intelligence service, providing valuable information to them. The case continues to develop.