Conviction Confirmed for Paju City Council Member Who Sang 'Revolution Comrade' at Former Tongjindang Event

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The Supreme Court has upheld the guilty verdicts against An So-hee, a Paju City council member, and two others who were indicted for attending various events of the former Unified Progressive Party (Tongjindang), singing songs that incited anti-American revolutionary struggle, and possessing pro-North Korean materials.

The Supreme Court's Second Division (Presiding Justice Ahn Cheol-sang) on the 14th confirmed the original sentence of 2 years and 6 months imprisonment with a 3-year probation and a 2-year disqualification for An, who was charged with praising and encouraging under the National Security Act.

Former Tongjindang spokesperson Hong Seong-gyu was sentenced to 1 year imprisonment with a 2-year probation, and former Tongjindang Pyeongtaek Committee Chair Kim Yang-hyun received 1 year and 6 months imprisonment with a 2-year probation. The 2-year disqualification was also confirmed for them.

With this final ruling, Councilor An will lose her position. Former spokesperson Hong currently serves as Secretary-General of the Minjung Party (formerly Tongjindang), and former Chair Kim is the head of the Committee for Independent Reunification, but they will also lose their party membership under the Political Parties Act.

The Supreme Court rejected the constitutional review request filed by An and others the previous day, which sought to determine the constitutionality of Article 7 of the National Security Act that defines the crime of praising and encouraging.

An and others were indicted without detention in June 2015 on charges including singing the revolutionary song "Hyukmyeong Dongjiga" at a candidate resolution meeting, an event of the former Tongjindang, on June 21, 2012, and possessing pro-North Korean materials.

They were also accused of sympathizing with anti-state group activities by attending a so-called RO (Revolution Organization) meeting held on May 12, 2013, at Marista Education Social Hall in Hapjeong-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, where they made pro-North Korean statements.

The first and second trials recognized the lyrics of "Hyukmyeong Dongjiga" sung by An and others as containing aggressive content against the free democratic order and found them guilty.

However, regarding the charge of attending the RO meeting, the court distinguished between main participants and simple attendees, finding only An guilty and acquitting the other two.

Meanwhile, the Minjung Party held a press conference in front of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, immediately after the ruling, claiming, "Today's ruling, which excessively expanded the elements of the crime and created unjust victims, is a historic crime."

They added, "Not only was former lawmaker Lee Seok-ki unjustly imprisoned for 9 years on charges of plotting a rebellion, but also party members were charged with violating the National Security Act for singing a single Minjung song at different times and places," and declared, "We resolve to file a constitutional lawsuit against Article 7 of the National Security Act at the Constitutional Court together with the three party members who were stigmatized as criminals by this unfair ruling."

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