Sue Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst, has been indicted by a New York grand jury on charges related to allegedly acting as a spy for the South Korean government in exchange for luxury items, including designer bags and gourmet meals.
The indictment, reported by the BBC, accuses Terry of failing to register as a foreign agent and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act. According to court documents from the Southern District of New York, Terry, who is a prominent expert on North Korea, is alleged to have worked for the South Korean government as an agent for over a decade without registering with US authorities.
Terry, 54, served as a senior analyst at the CIA from 2001 to 2008 and held various positions in the federal government, including Director for Korea, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs at the National Security Council under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
The 31-page indictment alleges that Terry admitted to FBI agents in a voluntary interview in 2023 that she had been a “source” for South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. It also claims that the South Korean government provided her with a $2,845 luxury coat, a $3,450 handbag, and high-end restaurant meals.
Furthermore, officials allege that the South Korean government gave her $37,000 and devised a plan to conceal the origin of the funds by channeling them into a gift fund at her think tank.
Terry denies the allegations, with her attorney, Lee Wolosky, asserting that the charges are “unfounded.” Wolosky stated that the accusations misrepresent Terry’s work, describing her as a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and extensive service to the US. He added that Terry was a vocal critic of the South Korean government during the periods in question.
