- Sue Mi Terry worked as a White House official under Bush and Obama
- Since then she has become a foreign policy officer and media commentator
- Terry has been indicted on charges that she worked as an agent of South Korea
A former White House and CIA official has been charged with allegedly working as an unregistered agent of the South Korean government in exchange for luxury goods and other gifts.
Sue Mi Terry advocated for South Korean policy positions, disclosed nonpublic U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence officials and facilitated access by South Korean government officials to their U.S. counterparts, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in a federal court in Manhattan.
In return, South Korean intelligence officers allegedly gave Terry, among other things, Bottega Veneta and Louis Vuitton handbags, a Dolce & Gabbana coat, dinners at Michelin-starred restaurants and more than $37,000 in “secret” funding for a program she led on Korean affairs.
Terry’s alleged work as an agent began in 2013, two years after she left her job with the US government, and continued for ten years.
According to the think tank’s website, she is now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an expert on East Asia and the Korean Peninsula, including North Korea.
Sue Mi Terry advocated for South Korean policy positions, disclosed nonpublic U.S. government information to South Korean intelligence officials and facilitated access by South Korean government officials to their U.S. counterparts, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court.
Terry did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but her attorney, Lee Wolosky, denied the allegations in a statement.
“These allegations are baseless and distort the work of a scholar and news analyst known for her independence and longstanding commitment to the United States.”
“She was, in fact, a fierce critic of the South Korean government during the period in which she was alleged to be acting on behalf of the government.”
“Once the facts are clear, it will be clear that the government has made a serious mistake,” he added.
The Council on Foreign Relations has placed Terry on unpaid administrative leave and will cooperate with any investigation, a spokeswoman said.
South Korea is not a defendant. The embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The Manhattan office of U.S. Attorney Damian Williams did not immediately respond to similar requests.
Terry continues to be a popular guest on television, radio and podcasts, appearing on CNN with Kaitlan Collins last month and testifying before congressional panels on several occasions.
Terry continues to be a sought-after guest on TV, radio and podcasts, appearing with Kaitlan Collins on CNN last month and testifying before congressional committees on multiple occasions.
Terry (pictured right) attends the 2024 EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall in February
Terry was born in Seoul and raised in Virginia. He was a senior analyst at the CIA from 2001 to 2008 and director of Korean, Japanese, and Pacific Affairs at the NSC from 2008 to 2009 under Republican President George W. Bush and Democratic President Barack Obama.
She now lives in New York, according to her biography.
The indictment accuses Terry of failing to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act and of conspiring to violate the law.
She reportedly acknowledged in a voluntary FBI interview in June 2023 that she was a “source” for South Korean intelligence, “meaning she provided valuable information.”