Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

Ex-WH, CIA official accused of working for S. Korea for luxury goods

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 17 Jul 2024 14:50
4 Min Read

The ex-White House official was indicted for promoting South Korean policy positions, disclosing confidential US government information, and facilitating connections between South Korean government officials and their US counterparts.

Listen
  • x
  • Sue Mi Terry at a screening of the documentary 'Beyond Utopia,' which she worked on as a producer | Image: ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, November 2023. (ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
    Sue Mi Terry at a screening of the documentary 'Beyond Utopia,' which she worked on as a producer, November, 2023. (ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

A US foreign policy specialist and former CIA and White House National Security Council (NSC) employee has been indicted on charges of allegedly working as a South Korean government agent in exchange for luxury goods and gifts.

Sue Mi Terry was charged with promoting South Korean policy positions, disclosing confidential US government information to South Korean intelligence officers, and connecting South Korean government officials with their US counterparts, according to a public indictment by the Manhattan federal court on Tuesday.

In exchange, she was allegedly granted Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants, and over $37,000 in funding for a public policy program on Korean affairs that she managed, by the South Korean officers.

Terry was charged with failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiring to violate that law. 

Terry's lawyer: Allegations are unfounded

The indictment also acknowledged Terry's admission that she was a "source" for the South Korean intelligence service during a voluntary FBI interview in 2023, “meaning that she provided valuable information.”

“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," Terry's lawyer Lee Wolosky said in a statement.

Related News

Trump ties US states' disaster funding to support for Israeli firms

Russia ends self-imposed ban on INF-class missile deployments

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

Two years after leaving the US federal service in 2013, Terry allegedly started working as an agent for the next decade. According to Council on Foreign Relations' website, she is a senior fellow there, specializing in East Asia and the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea. A representative for the Council on Foreign Relations stated that Terry has been placed on unpaid administrative leave and expressed their willingness to cooperate with any investigation.

Terry has appeared as a guest on several radio, television, and podcast shows, and has testified before congressional committees on multiple occasions, according to her website. The Seoul-born specialist worked for the National Security Council (NSC) under the administrations of both Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama where she was a senior CIA analyst from 2001 to 2008, and the director of Korean, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs from 2008 to 2009.

Famed FBI agent imprisoned for USSR espionage 

Another instance of a federal agent working with foreign governments is the case of FBI agent Robert Hanssen.

Dubbed as the US' "most damaging spy in Bureau history”, Hanssen began his journey with the FBI as an agent, in 1976, and only three years later, he allegedly approached the Soviet Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) offering himself as a spy agent.

Hanssen spied for the GRU from 1978 until 1981 when he was transferred to a different position that hindered his ability to spy for the Soviet Union. However, in 1985, after a second position transfer, Hanssen resumed his side hustle with the GRU.

Significantly, Hanssen gave the GRU lists of double agents known to the FBI, as well as a number of CIA assets and contacts. Furthermore, he delivered information on secret FBI tunnels beneath the USSR embassy in Washington DC and offered signals intelligence information.

Hanssen managed to avoid detection for years, in part due to the fact that worked in the bureau's unit that hunted double agents, but also because a large portion of his covert espionage operations coincided with those of Aldrich Ames, a CIA agent who also passed copious amounts of information to the Soviet Union, many of which were replicated by Hanssen, who was unaware of Ames' activities. 

The CIA argued that the only individual who harmed the agency more than Hanssen was Ames.

  • United States
  • South Korea
  • CIA
  • white house
  • indictment

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS