2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal

Korean political scandal October 2024 The 2012 NIS public opinion manipulation scandal saw members of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) of South Korea accused of interfering in the 2012 South Korean presidential election. First, an agent of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) was alleged to have manipulated public opinion to help Park Geun-hye's presidential election under the command of the NIS. Second, the director of the agency commanded an NIS agent to manipulate public opinion. Suspicions were raised before the election, but were not verified until afterwards.Police in South Korea Say Spy Service Tried to Influence Election, The New York Times On April 30, prosecutors raided the headquarters of the South Korean National Intelligence Service.https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/world/asia/prosecutors-raid-south-korean-spy-agency.html?_r=0 Prosecutors Raid South Korean Spy Agency in Presidential Election Inquiry The New York Times April 30, 2013 Choe Sang-Hun On June 12, the head of the NIS, Won Sei-hoon and the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Kim Yong-pan were prosecuted for interfering in the election.https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/12/world/asia/south-koreas-ex-intelligence-chief-accused-of-meddling-in-presidential-race.html South Korean Ex-Official Accused of Interfering in Election The New York Times June 11, 2013 Choe Sang-Hun In 2015, the Supreme Court acquitted Kim of charges of abusing his power to manipulate the investigation.http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2016/08/26/0301000000AEN20160826006800315.html Yonhap News Agency In 2016, a prosecutors' investigation had turned up evidence that the NIS had effectively been orchestrating the activities of conservative groups since the administration of former president Lee Myung-bak (2008–2013). The evidence shows that the NIS has been involved not only in political advertisements that conservative groups have run in newspapers but also in their plans to hold one-person protests and to hand out pamphlets. "An agent surnamed Park who was on the NIS's psychological warfare team supported and supervised right-wing conservative organizations and right-wing youth organizations."http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/741318.html NIS directed right-wing groups pro-government propaganda activities thumb|December 28, 2013, Korean Confederation of Trade Unions General Strike. Aftermath In 2013, prosecutor Yoon Suk Yeol led a special investigation team that looked into the National Intelligence Service (NIS)'s involvement in the scandal. Yoon sought the prosecution of the former head of the NIS, Won Sei-hoon, for violating the Public Official Election Act for his role in the case. Yoon accused Park Geun-hye's Justice Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn of influencing his investigation.June 18, 2019 South Korea's maverick prosecutor takes aim at heart of Samsung en-GB Nikkei Asia https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Companies/South-Korea-s-maverick-prosecutor-takes-aim-at-heart-of-Samsung May 8, 2020 The I'm Not Fine Movement also happened in the aftermath in 2013–14.South Korean Railway Workers Union resist creation of a new affiliate rail company, 2013 Global Nonviolent Action Database https://nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu/content/south-korean-railway-workers-union-resist-creation-new-affiliate-rail-company-2013 2024-11-02 nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu In February 2015, Won was convicted on charges of instructing NIS officials to manipulate internet comments and sentenced to three years in prison.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-31284704 South Korea spy chief sentenced to three years in prison February 9, 2015 BBC News However, the conviction was overturned on appeal, leading to a retrial. In a second trial, Won was sentenced to four years in prison in 2017. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence in April 2018.http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/PRINT/841449.html [Photo] Supreme Court upholds four-year prison sentence for former NIS director Won Sei-hoon April 20, 2018 The Hankyoreh When Moon Jae-in won the 2017 election, his administration pursued nine additional charges of political interference against Won, resulting in a subsequent 7 year jail sentence in 2020.https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20200207011000315 Former spy chief draws 7-year prison sentence for interference in politics February 7, 2020 Yonhap News Agency In August 2017, the NIS formally acknowledged that it was involved in the election manipulation after an internal inquiry.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40824793 South Korea's spy agency admits trying to influence 2012 poll August 4, 2017 BBC News In December 2020, the National Assembly passed reforms curbing the powers of the NIS, explicitly banning the agency and its employees from interfering in domestic politics.https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2020/12/14/national/politics/National-Intelligence-Service-Democratic-Party-filibuster/20201214182600540.html New law cuts NIS out of domestic politics for good Korea JoongAng Daily See also NISgate Todayhumor 2016 South Korean protests Choi Soon-sil gate List of protests in the 21st century References Category:2012 in South Korea Category:2013 in South Korea Category:Presidency of Lee Myung-bak Category:Presidency of Park Geun-hye Category:2012 South Korean presidential election Category:2013 protests Category:Protests in South Korea Category:Political scandals in South Korea Category:Election controversies Category:National Intelligence Service (South Korea)