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after the South Korean government ordered her deportation on grounds of her having violated the National Security Law with comments about North Korea made during a lecture

On Jan. 9, the US State Department criticized South Korean prosecutors’ decision to deport Shin Eun-mi, 54, a Korean-American, because of lectures she gave about unification of the Korean peninsula. South Korea’s National Security Law, which was invoked to deport Shin, violates the freedom of expression, the US government said.

When US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki was asked about Shin during a regular press briefing, she said, “Broadly speaking, our view is that the Republic of Korea has shown a consistent and longstanding commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights. [. . .] We’re concerned that the national security law, as interpreted and applied in some cases, limits freedom of expression and restricts access to the internet.”

“We can confirm that U.S. citizen Amy Chung, also known as Shin Eun-mi, was barred from exiting South Korea for the past three weeks. We have seen the reports indicating the prosecution has asked that Ms. Chung be deported and banned from South Korea for five years. [. . .] We’re in contact with Ms. Chung and providing all possible consular assistance,” Psaki said.

Major American newspapers also gave significant media coverage to Shin’s case. “The bizarre case has elicited furious reactions from conservatives and North Korean defectors. It also has raised questions about freedom of speech in the democratic South,” the Washington Post said in a story on page seven of its Jan. 9 edition.

In a story on page 6 of its Jan. 10 issue, the New York Times related the case in detail. “International human rights groups have recommended that South Korea repeal or amend the [National Security Law], saying that it hinders freedom of expression and political association,” the newspaper wrote.

“Critics said the law’s loosely worded definition of illegal activities benefiting the enemy leaves it open to abuse. Such fears increased after President Park Geun-hye [. . .] took office two years ago. Last month, her government won a Constitutional Court ruling that disbanded a small leftist party accused of following North Korean ideology,” the New York Times added.

On Jan. 10, Shin was questioned at the government’s immigration office in Seoul and then given orders to leave the country. She boarded a Los Angeles-bound flight at Incheon International Airport at 7:50 pm of the same day.

After the questioning was over, Shin met with reporters. “I feel like I have been betrayed by someone that I love. My body may be leaving Korea, but my heart cannot be deported from the land that I love,” she said.

In a statement that she posted on her Facebook page on the same day, Shin wrote, “What I said in my books and lectures is that we should move quickly to achieve peaceful reunification since there is nothing barring the people in North and South Korea from living together in a single community. How does this jeopardize public safety or harm the interests of the country?”

According to South Korean immigration law, an individual who has been deported from the country is banned from returning for five years. The prosecutors decided to suspend indictment of Shin for charges of praising and aiding North Korea, according to the National Security Law.

Shin is planning to lodge a constitutional appeal in regard to the suspended indictment and to file an administrative lawsuit challenging her deportation orders.

Shin and her husband arrived in the US at Los Angeles International Airport on Jan. 10. While Shin was leaving the airport, accompanied by a few dozen acquaintances from church and members of progressive organizations, a scuffle broke about with twenty or so members of conservative groups trying to block her way, Yonhap News reported. The members of the groups cursed at her, calling her pro-North Korea and telling her to go to North Korea, according to the wire service.

In the end, the airport police and security officials stepped in to maintain order, and two individuals who appeared to be members of conservative groups were detained by the police.

By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent and Jung Hwan-bong, staff reporter

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