Kim Ryun-hee, who has been on trial for six years for violating National Security Law, pleads for the right to return to her home in Pyongyang, citing her longing for her family.
Kim Ryun-hee emotionally addressed the court, reflecting on her painful separation from her daughter, who has now become an adult. Having been charged with violating South Korea's National Security Law, Kim's trial has been dragging on for six years with various changes in the judges, and no clear resolution in sight. The latest session was the first public trial in over a year, highlighting the prolonged nature of her legal struggles. Her legal troubles began when she attempted to return to North Korea after seeking medical treatment in China in 2011, ultimately leading her to South Korea, where she now feels imprisoned by the legal system.
The challenges Kim faced upon arriving in South Korea were exacerbated by her repeated attempts to return home, including a previous conviction for attempting to leave the country using a fake passport. Prosecutors charge that her activities on social media, where she expresses her nostalgia for her homeland and shares information about North Korea, pose a threat to national security and stability. Despite this, Kim emphasizes that her actions stem from longing for her family and does not intend to pose a threat.
Kim's defense argues for her acquittal or for the prosecution to drop the case, asserting that her yearning for her family in North Korea should not be criminalized. This case illustrates the complex and often harsh realities of North Korean defectors living in South Korea, as they navigate legal repercussions and societal disconnects while longing for their homes and families that they left behind, reflecting broader themes of identity, belonging, and the lengths individuals will go to reunite with loved ones.
