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A young North Korean defector who fled to the Korean Consulate General in Hong Kong has left the city and landed in South Korea after an 80-day hideout seeking political asylum

An 18-year-old North Korean math whiz surnamed Lee reportedly left Hong Kong last weekend and made his way to South Korea, the South China Morning Post and other Hong Kong newspapers reported on Sep. 28. Reportedly, Lee entered South Korea’s Consulate General in Hong Kong while he was in the city to compete in the International Mathematical Olympiad and requested asylum there.

An official from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to confirm these reports. “The government’s position is to not confirm defections in consideration of the safety of the defectors and diplomatic affairs with the country in question,” the official said.

“When there is an issue involving a defector, the government remains in close contact with the country in question, and it does its best to ensure that the defector is relocated safely,” the official added.

Lee was a member of the North Korean delegation to the 57th International Mathematical Olympiad, which was taking place at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology from July 6 to July 16. According to reports, he left the delegation and applied for asylum at the South Korea‘s Consulate General in Hong Kong.

By Lee Je-hun, staff reporter

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