Espionage under North Korean Orders: Supreme Court Finalizes Prison Sentences and Acquittals for KCTU Executives
by Ku Chaeeun
Published 25 Sep.2025 10:56(KST)
Former Director of Organization and Struggle sentenced to 9 years and 6 months
Health and Medical Workers' Union Director receives 3-year sentence
Metal Workers' Union Vice Chairman and Federation Head of Organization acquitted
The Supreme Court has finalized the prison sentences and acquittals of former executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) who engaged in espionage activities under orders from North Korean agents.
On September 25, the Supreme Court's Second Division (Presiding Justice Oh Kyungmi) upheld the lower court's ruling, sentencing former KCTU Director of Organization and Struggle, Mr. Seok (54), and former Director of Organization at the KCTU Health and Medical Workers' Union, Mr. Kim (50), to three years in prison for violating the National Security Act (espionage, special infiltration and escape, meeting and communication, providing convenience, etc.). The acquittals of Mr. Yang (56), former Vice Chairman of the KCTU Metal Workers' Union, and Mr. Shin (53), former Head of Organization at a KCTU-affiliated federation, who were indicted together, were also upheld on appeal.
Seok and others were indicted on charges of receiving 102 sets of instructions from North Korea and engaging in espionage activities between October 2018 and December 2022. It was also revealed that between September 2017 and August 2019, they made direct contact with North Korean agents in countries such as China and Cambodia.
They were also accused of creating email accounts for communication with North Korea between June 2020 and September 2022, and devising signaling methods to contact their members. During this process, under North Korean orders, they collected photographs of factional alignments and tendencies of KCTU chairman election candidates, as well as facilities and military equipment at the Pyeongtaek U.S. military base and Osan Air Base.
In the first trial, Seok was sentenced to 15 years in prison, Kim to 7 years, Yang to 5 years, and Shin was acquitted. However, the appellate court found some charges unproven, reducing Seok's sentence to 9 years and 6 months and Kim's to 3 years, while acquitting Yang and Shin.
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