By Lee Hyo-sik
A Korean Air pilot has been under police investigation for allegedly posting dozens of pro-North Korean messages and other material on his website in breach of the country’s National Security Law.
The National Police Agency said Wednesday that a 45-year-old captain surnamed Kim started a website (www.scintoy.com) in August 2006 and had posted more than 60 articles and video clips that criticized the South Korean government and instead promoted the North’s propaganda. Some of pro-North Korean material was found to have been produced in the communist state.
Under relevant laws, South Koreans cannot view pro-North Korea information either on- or offline. Those who distribute and promote pro-North material are subject to prosecution.
Police banned the pilot from leaving the country and asked the nation’s largest flagship carrier to prevent him from working as he may defect to the Stalinist state.
``We received a tip in January that Kim was engaged in spreading propaganda online. On Tuesday, investigators raided and searched his home, confiscating about 10 pro-North Korean books and a computer hard disc that may contain material promoting the North’s systems,’’ a police officer said.
He said after examining seized items, investigators will summon him for questioning.
``We will also interrogate the pilot about whether he was engaged in offline activities such as contacting North Korean spies or South Korean nationals sympathetic to the communist state. We asked Korean Air to suspend him from flying airplanes as there is the risk he may steer a plane to the North to avoid prosecution,’’ the officer said.
Police also found that Kim is a member of a pro-North website opened on Naver, Korea’s largest web portal, whose operator was indicted for breaking the National Security Law in June. The 43-year-old individual surnamed Hwang made headlines in late June by shouting ``Praise General Kim Il-sung’’ during a trial.
Last month, the Suwon District Court sentenced him to 10 months in prison.
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