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South Korean Cyberwarfare Unit Accused of Political Meddling South Korean Cyberwarfare Unit Accused of Political Meddling
(about 5 hours later)
SEOUL, South Korea — The Defense Ministry in South Korea said on Thursday that at least 11 officials at its cyberwarfare unit, created four years ago to fight North Korean propaganda, had spread 2,100 online political messages attacking the domestic opponents of President Park Geun-hye ahead of her election win a year ago. SEOUL, South Korea — The Defense Ministry in South Korea said Thursday that at least 11 officials at its cyberwarfare unit, created four years ago to fight North Korean propaganda, had spread 2,100 online political messages attacking the domestic opponents of President Park Geun-hye ahead of her election a year ago.
Military investigators asked prosecutors to indict the officials on charges of violating a law that bans public servants from meddling in domestic politics, the chief investigator, Maj. Gen. Baek Nak-jong, said during a news conference. But he said that his team had found no evidence that the cyberwarfare specialists had tried to influence the result of the election, which Ms. Park won by a margin of 1 million votes. Military investigators asked prosecutors to indict the officials on charges of violating a law that bans public servants from meddling in domestic politics, the chief investigator, Maj. Gen. Baek Nak-jong, said at a news conference. But he said his team had found no evidence that the cyberwarfare specialists tried to influence the result of the election, which Ms. Park won by a margin of a million votes.
The opposition Democratic Party called the military investigation a whitewash designed to prevent political fallout against Ms. Park.The opposition Democratic Party called the military investigation a whitewash designed to prevent political fallout against Ms. Park.
The Defense Ministry started an investigation two months ago after the opposition claimed that not only the country’s National Intelligence Service but also its military had conducted an aggressive online smear campaign to undermine the popularity of Ms. Park’s opponents to help her win the election.The Defense Ministry started an investigation two months ago after the opposition claimed that not only the country’s National Intelligence Service but also its military had conducted an aggressive online smear campaign to undermine the popularity of Ms. Park’s opponents to help her win the election.
Intelligence officials, including a former head of the spy agency, are on trial on charges of running a team of agents who prosecutors said posted thousands of political messages on Internet blogs and spread 1.2 million Twitter messages to try to sway public opinion in favor of Ms. Park ahead of the election. Intelligence officials, including a former head of the spy agency, are on trial on charges of running a team of agents who prosecutors said posted thousands of political messages on blogs and spread 1.2 million Twitter messages to try to sway public opinion in favor of Ms. Park ahead of the election.
The agents praised government policies while ridiculing Ms. Park’s opposition rivals as untrustworthy, pro-North Korean sympathizers, prosecutors said. Ms. Park, who won the election as the candidate of the governing conservative Saenuri Party a year ago Thursday, has denied directing or benefiting from the campaign. Her approval ratings remain relatively high at 54.8 percent, according to a survey conducted in the second week of December by Realmeter, a Seoul-based pollster. The agents praised government policies while ridiculing Ms. Park’s opposition rivals as untrustworthy, pro-North Korean sympathizers, prosecutors said. Ms. Park, who won the election as the candidate of the governing conservative Saenuri Party a year ago Thursday, has denied directing or benefiting from the campaign. Her approval ratings remain relatively high at 55. percent, according to a survey conducted in the second week of December by Realmeter, a Seoul-based pollster.
But her first year in office has been marked by a standoff with the opposition over its allegation that an illegal online smear campaign had helped her win the election. But her first year in office has been marked by a standoff with the opposition over its allegation that an illegal smear campaign had helped her win the election.
In recent weeks, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and other religious groups have issued separate statements demanding that Ms. Park resign, saying that her election was illegal. Ms. Park’s office and her party dismissed the demands, calling the religious figures involved radical demagogues.In recent weeks, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist and other religious groups have issued separate statements demanding that Ms. Park resign, saying that her election was illegal. Ms. Park’s office and her party dismissed the demands, calling the religious figures involved radical demagogues.
Since the military’s cyberwarfare command was launched in January 2010, General Baek said it had spread 280,000 messages through Twitter, blogs and Internet sites. Most were used to counter what South Korea considered North Korean propaganda on the Internet, such as Pyongyang’s denial of involvement in the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in 2010 that killed 46 sailors, he said. Since the military’s cyberwarfare command was begun in January 2010, General Baek, said it spread 280,000 messages through Twitter, blogs and other Internet sites. Most were used to counter what South Korea considered North Korean propaganda on the Internet, such as Pyongyang’s denial of involvement in the sinking of a South Korean navy ship in 2010 that killed 46 sailors, he said.
But General Baek said that the cyberwarfare officials had violated their political neutrality in 15,000 messages, and that 2,100 of them were used to attack Ms. Park’s political opponents. One such message called Ms. Park’s main rival — the opposition party’s presidential candidate Moon Jae-in — “not qualified to become the top commander of the military,” accusing him of trying to cede a disputed western sea border to North Korea.But General Baek said that the cyberwarfare officials had violated their political neutrality in 15,000 messages, and that 2,100 of them were used to attack Ms. Park’s political opponents. One such message called Ms. Park’s main rival — the opposition party’s presidential candidate Moon Jae-in — “not qualified to become the top commander of the military,” accusing him of trying to cede a disputed western sea border to North Korea.
General Baek said the military was considering reprimanding the current commander of the cyberwarfare unit and his immediate predecessor for a lack of oversight. But he said the two commanders were not directly involved in the alleged political intervention — a finding the opposition party called a whitewash. One of the commanders, Yeon Jae-wook, who led the unit until October last year, is now a senior military aide in Ms. Park’s presidential office.General Baek said the military was considering reprimanding the current commander of the cyberwarfare unit and his immediate predecessor for a lack of oversight. But he said the two commanders were not directly involved in the alleged political intervention — a finding the opposition party called a whitewash. One of the commanders, Yeon Jae-wook, who led the unit until October last year, is now a senior military aide in Ms. Park’s presidential office.
The scandals involving the National Intelligence Service and the military have deeply divided the country. Conservative supporters of Ms. Park defend them for fighting what they fear is a growing North Korean attempt to penetrate the Internet with Communist propaganda. They accuse the opposition of exaggerating the significance of the alleged wrongdoing to undermine Ms. Park’s authority. The scandals involving the National Intelligence Service and the military have deeply divided the country. Conservative supporters of Ms. Park defend them for fighting what they fear is a growing North Korean attempt to use the Internet to spread Communist propaganda. They accuse the opposition of exaggerating the significance of the alleged wrongdoing to undermine Ms. Park’s authority.
But opposition lawmakers cited the alleged online smear campaigns as proof that conservatives were returning to “security politics,” the practice of the past military dictators, including Ms. Park’s father, former President Park Chung-hee, who were accused of using threats about North Korea as an excuse to discredit and suppress domestic political enemies. Opposition lawmakers cited the alleged smear campaigns as proof that conservatives were returning to “security politics,” the practice of the past military dictators, including Ms. Park’s father, former President Park Chung-hee, who were accused of using threats about North Korea as an excuse to discredit and suppress domestic political enemies.