hankyoreh

Korean-Japanese Kim Seung-hyo, 68, was apprehended by the South Korean Central Intelligence Agency (now the National Intelligence Service) in 1974 on fabricated spy charges and tortured until he “confessed” to being a spy. In 1975, the Supreme Court sentenced him to 12 years for violating national security laws. After serving his sentence, Kim returned to Japan but continued to suffer from post-traumatic stress.

In 2015, he filed for a retrial. Kim’s life story was the subject of the documentary film Spy Nation (2016). On Aug. 23, the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office recommended that the courts declare Kim innocent; and on Aug. 31, the 11th division of the Seoul High Court (Hon. Lee Yeong-jin) gave the official declaration of Kim’s innocence. Ill health, however, prevented Kim from being present when his innocence was legally confirmed. His brother Kim Seung-hong, who was present in Kim’s stead, cried when he finally heard the words. (Kim Min-kyoung, staff reporter)