Former NIS Chief Won Se-hoon, Convicted of 'Comment Manipulation,' Released on Parole

Former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Won Se-hoon, who had been serving a prison sentence after being convicted in cases including manipulation of online comments, was released on parole on the 14th.

Former National Intelligence Service Director Won Sei-hoon, who was serving a sentence for various political manipulations during his tenure, was released on parole on the morning of the 14th from Anyang Prison in Gyeonggi Province, greeting supporters at the main gate with a wave of his hand.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Ministry of Justice Parole Review Committee held a meeting on the 7th and comprehensively evaluated Won's prison behavior and risk of recidivism, ultimately granting him parole eligibility. Won was released from the Anyang Correctional Institution in Gyeonggi Province around 10 a.m. that day.

About 20 supporters gathered at the scene, applauding and cheering for Won as he appeared. Won lightly greeted his supporters with a smile and waved his hand.

Won was indicted for conducting a "comment manipulation" operation ahead of the 2012 presidential election and was sentenced to four years in prison in April 2018. In September 2021, he was sentenced to nine years in prison and seven years of disqualification in a retrial for operating a civilian comment squad using NIS funds and for delivering 200 million won in special activity funds to former President Lee Myung-bak and others. He later gave up further appeals, and the sentence was finalized two months later.

Previously, Won was also convicted of personal corruption charges for receiving bribes worth hundreds of millions of won from a construction businessman, for which he served a sentence of one year and two months and was released after completing his term. The total length of his confirmed sentences amounted to 14 years and 2 months in prison.

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