Four Members Including Gyeongnam Progressive Alliance Arrested for Anti-Government Activities Under North Korean Orders

Dismissal of Arrest Review in Connection with the 'Changwon Spy Ring Incident'

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] Four people, including the organizational chairman of the Gyeongnam Progressive Alliance, were arrested on the 28th of last month on charges of violating the National Security Act.

According to the legal community on the 1st, the Seoul Central District Court issued arrest warrants for the four individuals involved in the so-called 'Changwon Spy Group Case' on the same day.

They are two from Changwon, one from Jinju, and one from Seoul, and are accused of forming an anti-state organization called the Jaju Tongil Minjung Jeonwi (Independent Unification People's Vanguard) and leading anti-government protests under the orders of North Korea.

A member of the Gyeongnam Progressive Alliance involved in the so-called 'Changwon Spy Group Incident' is appearing at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, for a warrant hearing.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

The Jaju Tongil Minjung Jeonwi is an anti-government organization formed around Changwon, Gyeongnam, since around 2016.

The National Intelligence Service and the police conducted searches of their homes and offices in November last year and arrested them on the 28th of last month.

Investigators believe that they contacted North Korean officials in Southeast Asian countries such as Cambodia, received orders, and engaged in anti-government activities.

The four filed a petition for a review of the legality of their arrest, claiming it was unjust, but it was dismissed by the court.

The court held a pre-arrest warrant hearing and issued the warrants, citing concerns over evidence destruction and flight risk.

The Gyeongnam Progressive Alliance National Security Law Abolition Countermeasure Committee against Public Security Repression protested the arrests and held a press conference in Changwon on the 30th of last month, urging, “Stop public security repression and immediately release progressive activists and unification movement activists.”