Story of a Korean-American diplomat posted on the X account of Project Veritas, an American investigative journalism outlet.  

A former Korean-American diplomat at the U.S. Embassy in Korea was fired for failing to report his relationship with a Chinese woman suspected of being a spy, which he omitted from his report to superiors. It was revealed that the diplomat had been responsible for screening Chinese student visas upon his return to the United States.

According to a video released on X (formerly Twitter) on the 7th (local time) by the American investigative journalism outlet "Project Veritas," Daniel Choi, a Korean-American diplomat, caused a stir with a shocking incident suggesting that private relationships can pose a fatal threat to national security. 

Chinese Student Visa Program… A "Gateway" Penetrating the Heart of the U.S.

In response to questions from a reporter who posed as a woman met on a dating app, Choi admitted to his relationship with the Chinese woman, stating, "I should have reported what I knew about her." When asked by the reporter if he had any concerns that the woman he was dating might be connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), he replied, "I know her dad, but he's like straight up communist party." 

Choi even mentioned, "She could have been a spy, though. I don't really know," and confessed, "I defied my government for love." 

Choi, who had served in the U.S. Department of State for about 20 years, was responsible for screening visas for Chinese students. Some experts express concern that China's student visa program may be exploited beyond purely educational purposes as a channel for espionage and infiltration. They suggest it serves as a "pipeline" for Chinese Communist Party operatives to infiltrate the core of American industry and innovation. 

In an interview with the outlet, lawyer Gordon Chang pointed out, "It's not easy to vet Chinese nationals. It's difficult to verify their backgrounds because they don't disclose their affiliation with the People's Liberation Army or the Communist Party when applying for U.S. visas."

U.S. Department of State Conducts Large-Scale Layoffs… Choi Included

In May, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio significantly overhauled visa policies for Chinese students in the United States, including revoking visas for individuals suspected of ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Last month, a sweeping layoff of 1,350 State Department employees, including 263 diplomats stationed abroad and 15 consular staff, was conducted, with Choi among them. This scale of workforce reduction is unprecedented. 

During this process, Choi, who was experiencing psychological instability due to his divorce, became a "perfect target" for spies due to discouragement and low morale in his work, according to analysis. 

Choi dated a woman named Joy Zhao, suspected of espionage, for six weeks. According to State Department guidelines, U.S. diplomats must report any potential compromises, especially enticements from foreign governments, particularly the Chinese Communist Party, within 24 hours. However, he concealed this relationship from his superiors. He was caught when he revealed details to a reporter posing as a woman met on a dating app, forgetting his diplomatic status. 

They began dating after the Chinese woman entered the U.S. in September of last year. Even when Choi was on official business trips to Cambodia, Thailand, and Japan, he continuously informed the Chinese woman he was dating of his location in real-time and sent her photos. When Choi returned from his business trip to Asia, she abruptly ended the relationship, and they parted ways. 

Escalating Espionage War… Personal Misconduct by Public Officials Who Forget Their Status Harms National Security

"As you can see, I texted her every day and sent her pictures. But she seemed to have lost interest in me," Choi confessed to the disguised reporter. When he said, "I think I'll be back on Sunday," her response was, "The U.S. has entered a new era of great power competition, including a 100-year struggle against the CCP." It was only then that Choi sensed something was wrong. 

Articles 7 and 14 of China's National Intelligence Law, enacted in 2017, stipulate that all Chinese citizens and organizations are obligated to conduct espionage activities when requested by the government. This means all Chinese nationals and organizations can pose a potential threat to the United States. 

Project Veritas stated that Choi's case should serve as a reminder of the importance of establishing internal discipline for national security and a catalyst for heightened vigilance to avoid falling victim to Chinese influence operations. They view this incident as a reexamination of how the personal misconduct and romantic affairs of diplomats can cause immense harm to national security amidst escalating international espionage competition. 

Meanwhile, Project Veritas is an investigative journalism outlet that first broke the story in 2020 concerning allegations that a Korean Air passenger plane transported fake ballots from South Korea to the United States during the U.S. presidential election. 

By Heo Gyeom