Six Masan Bodo League Victims Acquitted After 70 Years

'Execution for Defection' Retrial Reveals Truth
Court: "No Evidence of North Korean Collaboration"
Bereaved Family: "Not Guilty Is Good, But Heartfelt Sorrow"

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Son Tae-seok] Six civilians who were illegally arrested and detained as leftists during the Korean War and sentenced to death in a military trial were acquitted 70 years later.

On the 14th, the Criminal Division of the Masan Branch of Changwon District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jae-deok) acquitted six bereaved families of Masan-area Bodo League members in a retrial verdict for violating the National Defense Security Act.

At the beginning of the Korean War, the state executed them for violating the National Defense Security Act, claiming that they collaborated with the puppet army by associating with the South Korean Workers' Party and committed acts of treason.

However, the court stated, "There is no evidence that they engaged in acts of treason such as supporting North Korea," and "Since there is no proof of the crime, we hereby acquit them."

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Affairs clarified the truth about the Bodo League member incident that occurred in the Masan area in 2009.

No Chi-su, president of the Gyeongnam Bereaved Families Association for Civilian Victims Before and After the Korean War, and others filed for a retrial in 2013 based on this, and the Supreme Court accepted their request, starting the retrial in April last year.

President No Chi-su said, "Those who passed away were people who were called out briefly while working in the rice fields or told to come out to collaborate," adding, "Although I am glad that they were acquitted after 70 years, my heart feels heavy."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.