North Korean Abducted Fisherman Falsely Accused of Espionage Finally Acquitted... It Took 50 Years to Clear the Resentment

Taken North During 1970s Fishing, Returned
Imprisoned for Anti-Communist and National Security Law Violations
"Illegal Detention Investigation Confirmed, All Not Guilty"

Three fishermen who were abducted by North Korea while fishing off the East Coast and later accused of being spies, even serving prison time, have been acquitted.

The Criminal Division 2 of Chuncheon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Young-jin) on the 23rd acquitted all three fishermen who returned after abduction and were punished for violating the National Security Act in a retrial. The prosecution stated, "We confirmed that the investigation was conducted under illegal detention at the time, and therefore requested a verdict of not guilty for all." The court also delivered a not guilty verdict.

The three acquitted men were punished in the 1970s for violating the National Security Act or the Anti-Communist Law while fishing in the East Sea. One fisherman was forced to give false testimony through beatings and torture and served nine years in prison. According to data from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, about 1,000 fishermen suffered abduction during that period. Recently, the Chuncheon District Court has continued to issue not guilty verdicts, including acquitting all 32 fishermen who returned after abduction through retrials.