By Kang Seung-woo
The number of people indicted on charges of violating the nation's anti-communist law under President Park Geun-hye reached a 10-year high, according to data from the Supreme Court Monday.
A total of 118 people were prosecuted for violating the National Security Law in 2013, the highest figure since the 167 cases reported in 2002.
Enacted in 1948, the law bans any "anti-state" activities that attempt to praise, encourage or propagandize North Korean political ideals.
The number of people indicted this year is four times higher than the 29 cases in 2006, midway through progressive late President Roh Moo-hyun's term.
The number began to climb in 2007, peaking at 102 in 2010. Midway through the administration of then President Lee Myung-bak, the figure nearly doubled from 54 to 102.
The number of people acquitted of the charges is also on the rise, with 10 out of 88 people declared innocent this year, compared to zero in 2006.
The release of the numbers prompted a variety of reactions ― liberal groups claimed the government is needlessly resorting to the politically controversial law where as conservative groups argue that the law is just being properly enforced.
"The high rate of acquittals means that there are many prosecutions that the courts do not recognize," Ha Tae-hoon, a law professor from Korea University Law School, told Yonhap News. "There were many cases in the past when the prosecution brought charges against people who were critical of the government."
The prosecution denied that accusation.
"The prosecution is acting in accordance with the law and principle," said a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. "We are sticking to the existing principle."
The number of people indicted on charges of violating the nation's anti-communist law under President Park Geun-hye reached a 10-year high, according to data from the Supreme Court Monday.
A total of 118 people were prosecuted for violating the National Security Law in 2013, the highest figure since the 167 cases reported in 2002.
Enacted in 1948, the law bans any "anti-state" activities that attempt to praise, encourage or propagandize North Korean political ideals.
The number of people indicted this year is four times higher than the 29 cases in 2006, midway through progressive late President Roh Moo-hyun's term.
The number began to climb in 2007, peaking at 102 in 2010. Midway through the administration of then President Lee Myung-bak, the figure nearly doubled from 54 to 102.
The number of people acquitted of the charges is also on the rise, with 10 out of 88 people declared innocent this year, compared to zero in 2006.
The release of the numbers prompted a variety of reactions ― liberal groups claimed the government is needlessly resorting to the politically controversial law where as conservative groups argue that the law is just being properly enforced.
"The high rate of acquittals means that there are many prosecutions that the courts do not recognize," Ha Tae-hoon, a law professor from Korea University Law School, told Yonhap News. "There were many cases in the past when the prosecution brought charges against people who were critical of the government."
The prosecution denied that accusation.
"The prosecution is acting in accordance with the law and principle," said a prosecutor at the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. "We are sticking to the existing principle."
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