South Korea spy agency admits 2012 election plan to help Park

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South Korea’s spy agency has admitted coordinating an online operation ahead of the country’s 2012 presidential election to boost Park Geun-hye’s campaign and harm the chances of Moon Jae-in.

In a statement released late on Thursday evening, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed that the agency's cyber warfare unit worked to help secure conservative votes in the presidential poll in the two years up to the 2012 election.

Posters of South Korea's 2012 presidential candidates, Park Geun-hye and Moon Jae-in, in Seoul on December 19, 2012. /AFP Photo

"The teams were charged with spreading pro-government opinions and suppressing anti-government views, branding them as pro-North Korean (DPRK) forces' attempts to disturb state affairs", the statement, made following an internal investigation, read.

The NIS also confirmed that attempts had been made to help conservative candidates in the 2011 parliamentary elections.

‘Politically motivated’

Park Geun-hye narrowly defeated liberal Moon Jae-in – South Korea’s current president – in the December 2012 election, but has since been removed from office and is standing trial on allegations of abuse of power and corruption.

South Korea's ousted leader Park Geun-hye arrives at the Seoul Central District Court on May 25, 2017 for her trial over the massive corruption scandal that led to her downfall. /AFP Photo

Moon, who ordered the investigation, has vowed to reform the NIS. A spokesman for Park's party said on Friday that the inquiry was "politically motivated."

"The NIS says it will dissociate itself from politics but it is meddling in politics again by starting this probe," Kang Hyo-sang said in a statement.

Former NIS chief on trial

The NIS statement was released on the final day of the trial of Won Sei-hoon, the agency’s director from 2009 to 2013.

South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that members of the NIS's anti-DPRK psychological warfare team attempted to smear then main opposition candidate Moon and boost Park by posting on social networking and news websites.

Park Geun-hye celebrates election victory in 2012. /AFP Photo‍

Yonhap added that Won is accused of using the agency to silence media and provide support for conservative civic groups.

The internal investigation is far from over. It is reported to be probing a dozen other cases of alleged NIS wrongdoing.

(With inputs from agencies)

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