"Difficulty Adapting" Says Drug User... North Korean Defector Woman Sentenced to Prison in Both 1st and 2nd Trials Despite '125th Reflection Letter'

Judge "Acknowledges the Hardship, but..."
1st Trial: 2 Years Imprisonment, Appeal Dismissed

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A woman in her 40s who turned to drugs while struggling to settle in Korean society after defecting from North Korea was sentenced to prison again in the second trial.

On the 31st, according to the legal community, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeal Division 9 (Presiding Judge Yang Kyungseung) sentenced North Korean defector A (41, female), who was indicted for violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances), to two years in prison, the same as in the first trial. A fine of 10 million won was also ordered.

During the first trial (86th session) and the second trial (39th session), A submitted a total of 125 letters of apology but could not avoid a prison sentence in both trials.

The court stated, "It is acknowledged that the defendant had many difficulties and hardships living after coming from North Korea, and the circumstances of addiction to methamphetamine are also a mitigating factor," but added, "The number of offenses and the amount of methamphetamine are too large to impose a light sentence."

Furthermore, the court explained the reason for dismissing the appeal, saying, "Considering various circumstances, the sentence determined in the first trial is not considered heavy. Although many letters of apology were submitted, unfortunately, there is no way to change the decision."

Earlier, A was prosecuted for purchasing a total of 135g of methamphetamine, a narcotic, five times in Wonju, Gangwon Province, in October 2020. She is also accused of selling methamphetamine she possessed twice to others in February last year and directly using methamphetamine in Seogwipo, Jeju, a month later.

The first trial stated, "Considering the amount of methamphetamine purchased and used, the nature of the crime is serious," and "The defendant has a prior record of probation for methamphetamine use, so imprisonment is chosen." It added, "However, the defendant suffered from depression during the process of defecting from North Korea and settling in Korea, causing her pain, which seems to have been a motive for this case. The defendant admitted to the crime and actively cooperated with the investigation, and other sentencing factors were considered."

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