South Korean Room

DETAINEES

Six South Korean nationals are currently detained in North Korea, including missionaries Kim Jong-uk, Kim Kuk-gi, and Choi Chun-gil, along with three North Korean escapees who gained South Korean citizenship. Their fate remains completely unknown. Based on the experiences of foreigners previously detained in North Korea, it is likely that these individuals are enduring harsh conditions.

For instance, Korean American Kenneth Bae, who was detained for 735 days, described being the only prisoner in a special labor camp for foreigners, where he faced long working hours, limited food, and severe weight loss due to malnutrition. Similarly, Korean Canadian Lim Hyun-soo shared his near-death experiences caused by physical ailments and mistreatment during his 949-day detention. The tragic case of American student Otto Warmbier, who died shortly after his release from North Korean detention, further highlights the brutal conditions detainees may face.

Efforts by victim groups, civil society organizations, and the international community have raised awareness about the plight of these detainees. In "The Spirit of Camp David: Joint Statement of Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States," issued on August 18, 2023, the leaders of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to resolving the detainee issue and securing the immediate release of the South Korean citizens held in North Korea.
JEONGSAM KIM

Kim Jeong Sam’s brother, Jong-uk, was falsely arrested in North Korea in October 2013 on charges of being a spy while conducting missionary work along the North Korea-China border.

In 2014, North Korean state media accused Jong-uk of illegally entering the country by boat in 2013 with plans to establish 500 underground churches. They also claimed he was gathering intelligence for South Korea’s spy agency, though the South Korean National Intelligence Service denied these allegations.

North Korean propaganda reported that Jong-uk confessed to bringing Bibles, SD cards, 100 MP3 players, food, medicine, and a minicam into the country. The SD cards were said to contain Biblical lectures, hymns, and accounts of underground churches in Eastern Europe. North Korean authorities sentenced him to life at hard labor, reportedly reduced from a death sentence after Jong-uk’s "confession" and repentance.



Since then, Kim Jeong Sam has become an advocate for his brother and other detainees. He has worked to raise awareness at the United Nations Human Rights Council for cases like those of Korean American Pastor Kim Dong-cheol, Professor Kim Sang-deok, and Missionary Kim Hak-song.