On March 31, Kim Byeong-dong, chairman of the Gyeong-gi branch of the People’s Democracy Party, was arrested in court for the “Corean Alliance Case” fabricated during the Park Geun-hye fascist ‘regime’.
The “Corean Alliance Case” was a public security case in which the Park Geun-hye regime viciously suppressed the Corean Alliance members committed to independent reunification and democracy. The members of the Corean Alliance, who staged an indefinite sit-in against the public security crackdown, were detained on charges of violating the National Security Act, and the Corean Alliance voluntarily disbanded on July 1, 2016.
The Seoul Central District Court’s 24th Division of Criminal Agreement, led by Senior Judge Choi Kyung-seo, sentenced Kim to two years in prison and three years of disqualification for forming a group that benefits the enemy under the National Security Act.
The prosecution had charged Kim with “acting as the co-chairman of the Corean Alliance, holding its launching ceremony and regularly organizing rallies to advocate for North Korea’s nuclear tests and calling for the suspension of the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises.”
Kim pleaded not guilty, emphasizing that the struggle for independent reunification and democracy is the spirit of the times and is essential for social development. He acknowledged the basic facts but pointed out that “the DPRK is not an anti-government organization, and the Corean Alliance is not a group that benefits the enemy.”
However, the court found Kim guilty of all charges. It also rejected his request for an adjudication on the constitutionality of Article 7.1 of the National Security Act, which punishes activities that praise and promote anti-government organizations.
People’s Democracy Party and the Antifascist Popular Action held a joint rally in front of the Seoul Detention Center, calling for “Free Kim Byeong-dong!” and “Down with Yoon Suk-yeol!”
