“If asked to die for America, she would. I can’t believe this has happened.”
These were the words of Eun-ae Lee, mother of Sue Mi Terry (52), a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), who was indicted for acting as an “agent” for the South Korean government without reporting to the U.S. authorities.
In a phone interview with the JoongAng Ilbo, a leading Korean newspaper affiliated with the Korea Daily, on the July 17, Lee emphasized, “My daughter is not that kind of person.”
Federal prosecutors, who indicted Terry, alleged in the indictment that she had received expensive bags, clothing, and cash from National Intelligence Service agents working at the South Korean Embassy in the United States in exchange for passing on undisclosed information about the U.S. over the past decade.
Speaking in a trembling voice, Lee repeatedly stated, “She was a child who worked dedicatedly for the U.S. This is extremely unfair.” Lee, who immigrated to the U.S. with Terry when she was 12 years old, currently resides in Virginia.
[Ex-CIA and NSC official Sue Mi Terry indicted as ‘unregistered agent’ for South Korea]
[Emmy nomination for ‘Beyond Utopia’ overshadowed by charges against producer Sue Mi Terry]
[Korean spy agency faces backlash over allegations of bribing ex-CIA and NSC official]
“I know my daughter so well,” Lee said. “When she joined the CIA, I felt that she had such strong patriotism that she would be willing to die for America. She is a true Korean American, equally dedicated to both countries.”
Lee added, “ I am proud of how she worked diligently to strengthen the alliance between the U.S. and South Korea. I don’t understand why this is happening now. The allegations against her are reportedly about events from several years ago. Why is this an issue now?”
Terry, who served as the director of Korean, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs at the White House National Security Council (NSC) from 2008 to 2009, and her mother recalled how hard she worked.
“She always had so much work that she would take her lunch in a packed meal because she didn’t have time to go out,” Lee said. “Since childhood, I have always told her that if a Kim marries into a Lee family, she must devote herself to her new family before mentioning her own. I believe that if a Korean immigrant comes to America, they must first do their best for America, which will ultimately bring honor to Korea.”
Lee described Terry as having an almost obsessive level of secrecy while working at the CIA from 2001 to 2008. “Once she started working for the U.S. government, she completely sealed her lips. She even repeatedly asked me not to tell anyone about what she said in her sleep.”
“She told me not to ask about her work with the U.S. government. She said, ‘Just take pride in the fact that your daughter is working hard somewhere for the world’s strongest country,’” Lee recalled.
Despite co-producing the documentary “Beyond Utopia” for five years, Terry’s involvement remained unknown to Lee until its release. The documentary, which chronicles the perilous journey of North Koreans escaping their homeland, won the Audience Award at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and the Best International Documentary Audience Award at the 2023 Sydney Film Festival, and was recently nominated for an Emmy in the documentary filmmaking category.
“The Korean American community here has been sending me messages of support, saying, ‘Sometimes, working too hard can lead to unforeseen troubles. Don’t worry too much,’” Lee said. When asked if she had any message for the U.S. or South Korean governments, she replied, “Not at this time. I will remain silent.”
Lee mentioned, “I received a text message from my son-in-law saying, ‘Don’t worry. She is doing well.’”
BY HYOUNGGU KIM, YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.hyounggu@joongang.co.kr]
