Collegians arrested for breaking Security Law

By Kim Rahn

Three members of a university students’ study group were taken into police custody Monday on suspicions of violating the National Security Law.

Police also raided the homes of the nine members of the ideological club studying and the former head of the Seoul branch of a student activists’ group, surnamed Park.

The three people apprehended, including the club’s first chief, 37-year-old Choi Ho-hyeon, who organized the group in March 2007 had adopted a platform “which was highly likely to benefit the enemy,” meaning North Korea, according to police.

“We view the forming of the organization as an act of praising and aligning with the enemy,” a police officer said. “All the nine club members are suspected of violating the security law. Park was not a suspect, but we found some of them posted anti-state writings on Internet bulletin boards using Park’s computer, so we raided his house, too,” he said.

Police plan to seek an arrest warrant for the three if their alleged illegal acts are confirmed.

In the meantime, police also apprehended 51 members of a college students’ cultural association, for holding a rally in front of a police station where the three club members are detained, demanding an interview with them.

“Those students staged the rally without prior request or notice. We are investigating them at five police stations in Seoul,” the officer said.

Another nationwide student activists’ group denounced the probe. “Police suppress students, making up a story that the study club was organized based on North Korea’s order. Such a thing is happening in this era when many people call for the abolishment of the National Security Law,” the group said in a media briefing.

It also said the apprehended 51 students only demanded an interview with the club members, claiming some students were hurt while police were forcibly breaking the group up.