On February 27, Kim Ryeon-hee, a North Korean defector in her 50s indicted on charges including violations of the National Security Act, made an emotional plea to be sent back home.
Speaking at a press conference outside the Daegu District Court, Kim asserted that the request to be returned to North Korea isn’t an attack on South Korea, but rather a personal choice to reunite with her family.
Kim recounted her journey, explaining that she initially fled to China to secure funds for medical treatment. In 2011, she entered South Korea through a broker she encountered in China.
She maintains that after her arrival in South Korea, she expressed her desire to return to North Korea, but her requests were consistently denied.
In November 2015, Kim faced legal repercussions for repeatedly posting comments on social media platforms that praised the North Korean regime.
Further charges were brought against her in March 2016 when she entered the Vietnamese Embassy in Seoul, demanding repatriation to North Korea and refusing to leave when asked.
The Kim Ryeon-hee Repatriation Promotion Committee, a group supporting her cause, has criticized the prolonged legal process. They pointed out that since her indictment in 2020, the initial trial has dragged on for six years, emphasizing the urgent need for a swift verdict.