By Kang Seung-woo
Military investigators have discovered that the Cyber Command posted nearly twice as many political comments than was previously announced during the run-up to the 2012 presidential election, a government official said Wednesday.
The latest finding is likely to expand the scope of officials who will face possible indictments on charges of illegal electioneering. The result of the final investigation is expected later this month.
"Using big data from confiscated computers, the Criminal Investigation Command (CIC) has restored and analyzed deleted writings posted online by the Cyber Command's psychological warfare officials, and they actually posted nearly 30,000 comments (on social networking sites)," said the official.
Of that number, about 6,000 were in favor of then ruling Saenuri Party candidate and now President Park Geun-hye, while criticizing her rival Moon Jae-in and his then Democratic United Party, he said.
In December, the CIC came up with an interim result of a two-month probe into the Cyber Command over its alleged online smear campaign, saying officials posted 15,000 political comments, with 2,100 of them being critical of the opposition party.
As a result, a total of 11 cyber warfare officials including the head of the psychological warfare unit were referred to prosecutors for indictment.
The former director, identified only by his surname Lee, was indicted for ordering his subordinates to spread anti-Moon comments and destroying evidence.
"It seems inevitable that there will be more officials subject to criminal charges," a senior ministry official said.
The investigation team is trying to wrap up the case by the end of this month.
Some observers claim that former Cyber Command chief Yeon Jae-wook should be charged for his role in the scandal, but the country's military hierarchy is allegedly considering just "lenient" punishment for failing to effectively supervise his subordinates. Yeon, who led the Cyber Command between 2011 and 2012, is now serving as a presidential national defense aide.
Last month, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told lawmakers that Yeon did not order his subordinates to post political comments and therefore there is no basis for his dismissal.
The Cyber Command was established in 2010 to counter North Korean cyber attacks.
Military investigators have discovered that the Cyber Command posted nearly twice as many political comments than was previously announced during the run-up to the 2012 presidential election, a government official said Wednesday.
The latest finding is likely to expand the scope of officials who will face possible indictments on charges of illegal electioneering. The result of the final investigation is expected later this month.
"Using big data from confiscated computers, the Criminal Investigation Command (CIC) has restored and analyzed deleted writings posted online by the Cyber Command's psychological warfare officials, and they actually posted nearly 30,000 comments (on social networking sites)," said the official.
Of that number, about 6,000 were in favor of then ruling Saenuri Party candidate and now President Park Geun-hye, while criticizing her rival Moon Jae-in and his then Democratic United Party, he said.
In December, the CIC came up with an interim result of a two-month probe into the Cyber Command over its alleged online smear campaign, saying officials posted 15,000 political comments, with 2,100 of them being critical of the opposition party.
As a result, a total of 11 cyber warfare officials including the head of the psychological warfare unit were referred to prosecutors for indictment.
The former director, identified only by his surname Lee, was indicted for ordering his subordinates to spread anti-Moon comments and destroying evidence.
"It seems inevitable that there will be more officials subject to criminal charges," a senior ministry official said.
The investigation team is trying to wrap up the case by the end of this month.
Some observers claim that former Cyber Command chief Yeon Jae-wook should be charged for his role in the scandal, but the country's military hierarchy is allegedly considering just "lenient" punishment for failing to effectively supervise his subordinates. Yeon, who led the Cyber Command between 2011 and 2012, is now serving as a presidential national defense aide.
Last month, Defense Minister Kim Kwan-jin told lawmakers that Yeon did not order his subordinates to post political comments and therefore there is no basis for his dismissal.
The Cyber Command was established in 2010 to counter North Korean cyber attacks.
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