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Former NIS director Won Sei-hoon is led into the Seoul High Court on Aug. 30

Prosecutors launched an investigation into former National Intelligence Service (NIS) director Won Sei-hoon after obtaining new evidence suggesting he misappropriated large amounts of the agency’s funds for overseas operations. The evidence points to personal corruption in addition to the charges Won has been accused of to date.

The second special investigation division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office under chief prosecutor Song Gyeong-ho conducted raids on Nov. 29 on the NIS-affiliated Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) and Won’s detention center reception room, obtaining personal memos and materials related to accounting and other duties.

The prosecutors recently received NIS materials indicating the Won had US$2 million (around 2.2 billion won) in agency overseas operation funds sent to Stanford University between late 2011 and early 2012 while serving as NIS director, sources reported. The NIS funds were reportedly sent to a research center at Stanford by way of the INSS. Prosecutors believe Won was planning to go to Stanford as a guest researcher after leaving office in 2013 and misappropriated the NIS funds as a donation to secure a suitable position at the university.

“It became effectively impossible for Won to go to Stanford when the prosecutors conducted their 2013 investigation into NIS presidential election interference. As far as we know, the money he sent to the university is still there,” explained a source with prosecutors.

Prosecutors are also ramping up their investigation into the possibility Won misappropriated other funds for a home in California in addition to the US$2 million sent to Stanford. During his 2013 investigation by prosecutors, Won was alleged to have spent US$850,000 on personal expenses, including the purchase of a home in San Francisco, beyond the $2 million sent to Stanford.

After completing their analysis of the materials obtained in the raid on Nov. 29, prosecutors plan to summon Won for questioning on the circumstances of the remittances. Won was also grilled on the allegations when he appeared before prosecutors the day before, sources said.

By Seo Young-ji, staff reporter

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