South Korean intelligence intervened to help Park Geun-hye win the 2012 election

South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS) admitted to interfering to help Park Geun-hye win the 2012 presidential election.

CGTNreport,South Korea's intelligence agency admitted on the evening of August 3 that it collaborated in an online campaign ahead of the 2012 presidential election to support Park Geun-hye's campaign and hurt the chances of Moon Jae-in (current South Korean President).

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye. Photo: CGTN.

According toYonhap, members of the psychological warfare team at the NIS tried to smear then-opposition candidate Moon Jae-in and support Park through posts on social media and news sites.

“The teams were responsible for spreading pro-government opinions and suppressing anti-government views, labeling them as attempts to disrupt the state by pro-North Korean forces,” the statement accompanying the internal investigation said.

The NIS also confirmed that it helped conservative candidates in the 2011 parliamentary elections.

In the 2012 election, Park Geun-hye defeated Liberty Korea Party candidate Moon Jae-in to become South Korea's first female president.

However, she has now been removed from office and is facing trial on charges of abuse of power and corruption.

Mr Moon, who requested the investigation, has vowed to reform the NIS so that it does not interfere in future elections. However, a representative for Ms Park said on August 4 that the investigation was “politically motivated”.

The internal investigation will continue as dozens of other alleged NIS violations are brought under review./.

According to VOV