South Korean activists detained for illegal Ukraine trip advocating North Korean POWs

Six activists from South Korea were taken into custody on accusations of breaking the Passport Act after a May trip to Ukraine aimed at preventing the forced repatriation of two North Korean prisoners of war captured while serving Russia in the Kursk region. Jang Se-yul, head of the defector organization Gyeoreol Unification Solidarity, said the foreign ministry had reported the group for lacking the mandatory recommendation letters from the unification minister, which they could not obtain due to a tight schedule.

While in Ukraine, the delegation met officials at the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War under the defense ministry, urging support for the POWs’ wish to go to South Korea and warning of dangers if returned to North Korea. Ukraine has been on South Korea’s travel-ban list since February 2022, and the foreign ministry advises citizens to leave such countries unless they have exceptional permission, noting that non-compliance may result in criminal prosecution. The ministry declined further comment, citing an ongoing investigation.