A South Korean court convicted four former government officials on Wednesday for the forced repatriation of two North Korean fishermen in 2019, despite the fishermen’s desire to defect. This case has drawn significant criticism from international human rights advocates.
At the time of their deportation, the administration of former President Moon Jae-in labeled the fishermen as “dangerous criminals,” alleging they had killed 16 fellow crew members during a dispute over an abusive captain before crossing the maritime border.
The Seoul Central District Court opted for suspended sentences for the four officials, all of whom served under Moon and maintained their innocence.
The individuals involved include Chung Eui-yong, the former chief of the National Security Office; Noh Young-min, the former presidential chief of staff; Suh Hoon, the former head of the National Intelligence Service; and Kim Yeon-chul, the former Unification Minister.
In South Korea, suspended sentences are often given for offenses considered relatively minor, which do not constitute traditional convictions but still appear on criminal records.
In 2022, the case was reopened, with the office of now-impeached President Yook Suk Yeol condemning the repatriation, referring to the defectors as “human scum” and suggesting it could amount to a “crime against humanity.”
The deportation faced backlash from human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, which argued it violated international law due to the high risk of torture the men would face. Their current status remains unverified. Footage released by the Yoon administration in 2022 depicted South Korean security personnel forcibly escorting the men across the border into the custody of North Korean soldiers.
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After the court’s decision, former National Security Office chief Chung defended the repatriation actions and indicated he might consider appealing the verdict.
“Those who were repatriated in November 2019 were not merely North Korean defectors who committed crimes during their escape, as the prosecutors assert,” Chung stated to the media. “They brutally killed 16 of their fellow sailors and fled from North Korean society.”
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