Aide to premier indicted in online political conspiracy

SEOUL — A close political ally of President Moon Jae-in of South Korea conspired with a team of online bloggers to illegally influence public opinion before Moon’s election last year, a special counsel said Monday.

The special counsel, Huh Ik-bum, whose investigation was authorized by the National Assembly, found no evidence that Moon himself was involved in the alleged scheme. Huh also did not determine whether or how much Moon profited politically from the online operation.

But the alleged involvement of Kim Kyoung-soo, one of Moon’s closest aides, is a political setback for Moon, who has vowed to set himself apart from South Korea’s former presidents and their ethical scandals. Almost all of South Korea’s presidents, including Moon’s immediate predecessor, Park Geun-hye, were entangled in corruption scandals.

Kim was accused of working with an internet blogger named Kim Dong-won, known widely by his blogging alias “Druking.”

Druking and his team of bloggers, in collaboration with Kim, posted numerous online comments or generated millions of “likes” or “dislikes” to enhance perceptions of Moon in the six months leading up to his May 2017 election, the special counsel said. Their operation continued until early this year, using special computer software to produce more than 99 million “likes” or “dislikes,” he said.

Kim, Druking and several others were indicted over the weekend on election-law violations and other criminal charges, the special counsel said. Kim was accused of promising an acquaintance of Druking a government job in return for his work, he said.

Kim, then a lawmaker affiliated with Moon’s Democratic Party, served as a key adviser for Moon when Moon campaigned for the snap presidential election that was called after Park was impeached and ousted on charges of bribery and abuse of power.

Kim has denied involvement in Druking’s online operations and said he would prove his innocence at court. Despite the scandal, Kim was elected governor of South Gyeongsang province in southeastern South Korea in June.

Moon’s office also has denied that the president was involved.