Opposition Figure 'Illegal Surveillance' Lee Jong-myung, Former 3rd Deputy Director of National Intelligence Service, Also Sentenced to Prison in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] The former 3rd Deputy Director of the National Intelligence Service (NIS), who was prosecuted for illegally surveilling opposition figures during the Lee Myung-bak administration, was sentenced to imprisonment again in the appellate court.

On the 26th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 9 (Presiding Judges Moon Kwangseop, Park Youngwook, Hwang Seongmi) overturned the original sentence of 8 months imprisonment and sentenced Lee Jongmyung, former 3rd Deputy Director of the NIS, to 6 months imprisonment on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (loss of state funds).

Lee is accused of using budget funds during 2011-2012 under the direction of then NIS Director Won Se-hoon to verify rumors of misconduct involving former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun. Investigations revealed that 470 million KRW and 10,000 USD were used for the so-called Davidson project, and 85,000 USD was used for the Salmon project from state funds.

While these charges were upheld in the appellate court, allegations that Lee ordered staff to follow Mrs. Kwon Yangsook, wife of former President Roh Moo-hyun, during her visit to China in September 2011, and then Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon during his visit to Japan in February 2012, were not recognized.

Meanwhile, Kim Seung-yeon, former head of the NIS North Korea Operations Bureau, who was also prosecuted, was found guilty of participating in the surveillance of Mrs. Kwon and former Mayor Park, and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and 6 months suspension of qualifications.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.