hankyoreh

A 43-year-old South Korean man was arrested for trying to smuggle himself into North Korea on four occasions.

According to prosecutors, the accused, only identified by the surname Lee, ended his mandatory military service in 1987 and then graduated from a theological college. Lee set up two churches in 1991 and 1992 in Seoul and Goyang of Gyeonggi Province, but they both went under.

After divorcing in 1998, Lee had periodically worked as a driver for taxi and small commuter bus companies. In 2003, Lee settled in Gimpo, which is close to the North Korean border. Amid continued economic difficulties, Lee felt bitter against capitalism and longed to travel to North Korea, prosecutors say.

In April 2005, Lee traveled to China to try to enter into North Korea. At the North Korea-China border near Baekdu Mountain, he attempted to cross through the mountaneous region but failed due to a one-meter-high snowfall. Then, Lee attempted to cross the Apnok (Yalu) River at another location along the North Korea-China border, but he was detected by Chinese border guards and expelled to South Korea. Finally, in September last year, Lee went again to China and eventually sneaked into North Korea. However, North Korea did not welcome his unexpected visit. Lee begged the North Korean authorities to let him stay there, saying, "I feel comfortable here. Since this is my homeland, please let me stay here," prosecuters reported. But North Korean officials sent him back to China.

Despite these three failures, Lee did not sway from his determination.

In January this year, Lee went again to China, but was put under investigation upon arrival as immigration police recognized who he was. After Lee escaped an interrogation room because of poor security, crossed the Apnok (Yalu) River, and arrived again in North Korea. Lee told North Korean authorities, "I have suffered from capitalist exploitation. There is a huge gap between haves and have-nots and rampant corruption. I will do anything you want." However, Lee was again sent back to China.

On April 20, the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office indicted Lee on charges of violating the National Security Law.

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