US prosecutors allege former CIA analyst received money from senior South Korean intelligence officials
Federal prosecutors claim that former CIA analyst Sue Mi Terry was paid by top officials of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
U.S. attorneys in the Southern District of New York argue that Sue Mi Terry, a Korean-American expert on North Korea and former senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, received direct financial support from senior officials of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service. The September 28 court filing cites audio recordings and Terry’s statements as evidence that she was aware the NIS funded her salary and other expenses.
The filing also alleges she tried to hide this funding from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, strengthening the case that she willfully breached the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Prosecutors publicly named three NIS handlers who, over more than ten years, provided her with expensive meals, designer clothing, handbags, and research grants. Terry was indicted in July 2024 for the alleged violations. The case highlights concerns about foreign influence operations involving former U.S. intelligence personnel.
Why it matters
The case underscores how foreign governments may use former U.S. officials to influence policy and the importance of enforcing foreign-agent disclosure laws.
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