'Forcibly repatriated North Korean fishermen' Chung Eui-yong and Seo Hoon appeal against 2nd trial prison sentence

The suspended sentence in the first trial was broken and a heavy sentence was imposed... Former Minister Kim Yeon-cheol also submitted a notice of appeal.

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Bitna Kim = Three members of the Moon Jae-in administration's security line, who were sentenced to suspended prison sentences in the second trial for the forced repatriation of North Korean defector fishermen, appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.

According to the legal community on the 27th, former Blue House National Security Office Director Chung Eui-yong, former National Intelligence Service Director Suh Hoon, and former Unification Minister Kim Yeon-cheol submitted an appeal to the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 15-3 (High Court Judges Seong Eon-ju and Won Ik-seon and Lee Hee-jun).

On the 21st, the appellate court sentenced them to a heavier sentence than the first trial.

The court sentenced former Director Jeong and former Director Seo to one year and six months in prison and three years of probation, respectively, and former Minister Kim to one year in prison and two years of probation.

However, former Presidential Chief of Staff Noh Young-min, who was also brought to trial, was acquitted on the grounds that it is difficult to say that he conspired to commit abuse of power or was involved in the decision to repatriate to North Korea.

Previously, the first trial postponed the sentence of imprisonment for all four people, including former Director Jeong. Deferred sentencing is a decision that postpones sentencing while admitting guilt.

Former Chief Chung Eui-yong and others said immediately after the appeal court decision, "We cannot accept an unfair judgment that did not fully consider the substance of the case and the special circumstances at the time," and "We will immediately appeal to the Supreme Court to reveal the truth and prove legal legitimacy."

Former Director Jeong and others are accused of ordering the forcible return of two North Korean fishermen, who were accused of killing 16 fellow sailors in November 2019, to North Korea even though they had expressed their intention to defect.

In this process, charges were also applied for preventing fishermen from exercising their right to trial in accordance with domestic laws and procedures.