Confirmed 2-Year Prison Sentence for 'Spy Activities' by Chungbuk Comrades Association: "Acts Jeopardizing National Security"

Chairman Son Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison...
Two Members Receive 5-Year Sentences
Formed Pro-North Korean Organization Under Orders from North Korean Operatives...
Received Operational Funds

The Supreme Court has finalized prison sentences for defendants related to the 'Chungbuk Dongjihoe' who were prosecuted on charges of espionage activities under the direction of North Korean operatives.

Yonhap News

On the 13th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Shin Sook-hee) upheld the lower court's ruling sentencing Son Mo, chairman of Chungbuk Dongjihoe, to two years in prison after recognizing some of the charges of violating the National Security Act. The prison sentences of five years each for two other members, Park Mo and Yoon Mo, were also upheld as in the lower court rulings.

They are accused of forming the pro-North Korean organization 'Jaju Tongil Chungbuk Dongjihoe' in 2017 under the direction of operatives from North Korea's Cultural Exchange Bureau and receiving operational funds amounting to $20,000 in US dollars in Shenyang, China, in 2019. Additionally, they are charged with engaging in various security-threatening activities such as detecting national secrets and collecting domestic political information in the Chungbuk region over four years.

Furthermore, they are accused of dividing roles among chairman, adviser, vice chairman, and liaison officer, exchanging dozens of encrypted directive and report documents with operatives, and conducting activities to recruit local politicians and labor and civic organization figures.

Previously, Son was sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first trial but had his sentence reduced to two years in the second trial. Park and Yoon also had their sentences reduced from 12 years to five years each. This was due to the acquittal on charges of organizing a criminal group.

The first trial court viewed Chungbuk Dongjihoe as a criminal organization with a certain discipline and command structure. However, the second trial court judged that it was difficult to see it as a well-organized criminal group to the extent of being a substantial criminal organization. Nevertheless, the second trial court recognized the defendants' guilt on charges such as infiltration and escape under the National Security Act, as well as assembly and communication offenses. The second trial court emphasized, "The defendants' actions threaten national security and require severe punishment commensurate with the risk."