South Korea’s Spy Agency Admitted That It Tried To Influence The 2012 Election

The Guardian: South Korea spy agency admits trying to rig 2012 presidential election

National Intelligence Service says it mobilised cyberwarfare experts to ensure Park Geun-hye beat rival and now president Moon Jae-in.

South Korea’s spy agency has admitted it conducted an illicit campaign to influence the country’s 2012 presidential election, mobilising teams of experts in psychological warfare to ensure that the conservative candidate, Park Geun-hye, beat her liberal rival.

An internal investigation by the powerful National Intelligence Service also revealed attempts by its former director and other senior officials to influence voters during parliamentary elections under Park’s predecessor, the hardline rightwinger Lee Myung-bak.

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WNU Editor: Ignoring the illegality of it all, but could a small army of commentators on the web influence an election? I know in Russia there has been numerous reports that the Kremlin is doing the same thing .... and when I read the Russian sites that I like I do spot these favourable or unfavourable comments that seem out of place or robotic .... it is almost as if someone is copy-pasting their remarks repeatedly. Bottom line .... this does not sway my opinions .... if anything .... it reinforces it. But this South Korean case is definitely one that is going to be interesting to follow .... because it will give a heads-up on the important role that the web has in influencing elections, by promoting fake news and/or by focusing attention on a news article that is true but is damaging to an opponent.

More News On South Korea’s Spy Agency Admitting That It Tried To Influence The 2012 Election

Calls grow for probe into former President Lee over NIS election-meddling scandal -- Korea Herald
State spy agency's election smear campaign confirmed -- Yonhap News Agency
South Korea's spy agency admits trying to influence 2012 poll -- BBC
South Korea's spy agency tried to rig 2012 presidential elections -- DW
South Korea’s spy agency admits trying to influence 2012 election -- SCMP
Spy Agency Used 'Psychological Warfare' to Help Disgraced South Korea President -- Sputnik