South Korea spy found dead after tapping scandal

A South Korean intelligence agent found dead in an apparent suicide left a note denying his team had used spyware to tap the mobile phones and computers of private citizens in the latest scandal involving the spy agency.

Police in the suburban district of Yongin, south of Seoul, said that a 46-year-old man found dead in his car seemingly as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning was an employee of the National Intelligence Service (NIS).

The note released by police, who confirmed the writing to be that of the agent, said there was no spying whatsoever against domestic citizens or related to elections.

“I believe excessive zeal for work has created this situation,” the agent, whose identity or rank in the intelligence service was not disclosed, said in the note.

The case comes after a rare public admission last week by the agency that it had purchased spyware from an Italian firm that is used to eavesdrop mobile phone and computer communication, but that it was to be used for research or against foreign targets.

Scandals

The revelation marks the latest in a series of scandals centred on the intelligence service, which has struggled to shed its image as a political tool of sitting presidents and to reform in order to focus on counter-espionage against North Korea.

A former spy chief under president Park Geun-hye’s predecessor is fighting a conviction for trying to influence the 2012 election that brought the conservative leader to power.

Ms Park denied benefitting from attempts by NIS agents to sway voters but said last year that more could be done to reform the agency.

Reuters