Incheon Jetski Illegal Immigrant Human Rights Activist Released by Court Leniency

"Long-term Detention, No Criminal Record in Korea"
Exit Ban in China... Illegal Entry Across 300km Sea Crossing

Human rights activist Chuanping (35), who illegally entered the waters off Incheon from China riding a jet ski (personal watercraft), was prosecuted but released due to the court's leniency.

On the 23rd, Judge Lee Ju-young of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 17 sentenced Chuanping, who was detained and prosecuted for violating the Immigration Control Act, to one year in prison with a two-year probation.

The court stated, "The defendant attempted to illegally enter the country without permission and is also charged with dumping waste in public waters. Although the offense of obstructing immigration duties is serious, the defendant admitted to the charges and had been detained for a long period. Consideration was also given to the fact that the defendant has no prior criminal record in Korea."

Jet ski (personal watercraft) ridden by Mr. Chuanping [Image source=Incheon Coast Guard]

Chuanping is accused of attempting to illegally enter the waters off Incheon on August 16 by riding a jet ski from China. On that day, he departed around 7 a.m. from the Shandong Province area in China on an 1800cc jet ski, relying on a compass and binoculars to travel 300 km over 14 hours to reach the waters off Incheon.

At departure, he filled the jet ski with 70 liters of fuel and tied five 25-liter fuel containers with ropes to continuously replenish fuel. When the jet ski got stuck in the mudflats near the Songdo Cruise Terminal in Incheon, Mr. A himself requested rescue from the fire department. He was later arrested by the coast guard.

Previously, the prosecution had requested a prison sentence of two years and six months during the sentencing hearing last month.

International solidarity activist Lee Daeseon drew public attention on social media by claiming that Chuanping was "a person who was arrested and sentenced to prison after posting a photo online wearing a T-shirt with a satirical slogan about President Xi Jinping." Lee said, "(Chuanping) was under surveillance by Chinese authorities even after release and was banned from leaving the country."

According to Lee, Chuanping had long been dissatisfied with the Chinese government's political censorship and had engaged in human rights activism within China, publicly supporting and advocating for the rights of detained human rights lawyers.

On the 22nd (local time), Chuanping's father told the British daily The Guardian in an interview, "If my son is repatriated to China, he could die," and added, "I hope the Korean government opens a path for my young son who desires freedom to survive."

According to the media, Chuanping studied abroad at Iowa State University in the U.S. and obtained a Korean tourist visa last year but was unable to use the airport due to a travel ban imposed by Chinese authorities. This led him to forcibly travel to Korea by jet ski.

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