Allegations Raised That 'Political Prisoners May Be Sent to Camps'
Shin Yubin and Lim Jonghoon, who won the bronze medal in the mixed doubles table tennis event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, taking selfies with the North Korean and Chinese teams. Paris=Olympic Photo Joint Press Corps
The recent status of North Korean table tennis players, who faced possible punishment for taking a selfie with South Korean athletes including Shin Yubin at the 2024 Paris Olympics medal ceremony, has been revealed.
On the 18th, Korean Central TV highlighted the Jangchun Street Sports Village, reporting that "sports workers, athletes, and coaches are vigorously striving to uphold the dignity and honor of the homeland to the world with gold medals of victory."
The footage showed weightlifting athletes and table tennis players in training. Notably, North Korean players Ri Jeongsik and Kim Geumyeong, who won the silver medal in the mixed doubles table tennis event at the Paris Olympics, were also seen.
In an interview that day, Kim Geumyeong stated, "I participated in last year's Asian Games and this year's Olympic Games, competing against athletes from other countries, achieving results and gaining significant lessons." She shared that she is training fiercely for the next international competition.
In July, Ri Jeongsik and Kim Geumyeong took a selfie with South Korea’s Lim Jonghun and Shin Yubin, who won the bronze medal, and China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha, who won the gold medal, at the 2024 Paris Olympics mixed doubles table tennis medal ceremony.
At the time, the scene attracted global attention, including major foreign media. However, some expressed concerns that they might be punished upon returning to North Korea for violating the authorities' special directive to "avoid contact with South Korean and other foreign athletes."
Daily NK, which reports on North Korean news, conveyed that a negative evaluation report regarding them was submitted to higher authorities. The report reportedly included content stating that "despite South Korean athletes, designated as the primary enemy, being right next to them, they showed 'grinning' expressions."
At that time, various speculations arose, including "at least 2-3 years of revolutionary re-education (ideological study or labor site work)" or "possible imprisonment in a political prison camp." However, the recent footage showing them diligently training suggests that they were not punished.
On the other hand, the fact that they appeared on TV about a month after the Olympics closed raises the possibility that they received a light punishment and have returned. There is also an opinion that the North Korean authorities deliberately refrained from punishing them and showed their appearances on TV to avoid external attention.
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