Woo Yong-gak

Woo Yong-gak (29 November 1929 – 7 December 2012)[1] was a North Korean commando who was released from incarceration in South Korea on 25 February 1999.[2]

In this Korean name, the family name is Woo.
Woo Yong-gak
Born(1929-11-29)29 November 1929
Nyongbyon County, Japanese Korea
Died(2012-12-07)7 December 2012
NationalityNorth Korean
OccupationCommando

He served 40 years, 7 months and 13 days in prison as one of South Korea's unconverted long-term prisoners.[3] It has also been said that he "spent 41 years in solitary confinement".[4][5] He returned to North Korea in September 2000.

Capture

Woo was captured during a North Korean commando raid in South Korea's east coast waters in 1958 while he participated as one of the raiders.[6]

Imprisonment

Purpose

After his conviction of espionage for North Korea, Woo was sentenced to life imprisonment.[7] South Korea claimed that he had been leading a group of spies.[8] Throughout his imprisonment he refused to sign an oath of obedience to South Korea's National Security Law, which bans the display or expression of any pro-North Korean sentiment.[9]

Torture allegation

A report by Amnesty International records his claim of torture in an underground facility after his arrest and a forced confession.[10]

Solitary confinement

South Korean law specifies solitary confinement for spies, even if they pose no physical threat.[11] Woo was held in solitary confinement in a 12-by-12-foot cell since his capture aboard a North Korean boat.[12] The terms of his imprisonment permitted 30 minutes of daily exercise with other prisoners.[9] In 1998, he was said to be "missing all his teeth because of years of torture, poor food, and inadequate medical treatment".[13] In 1999, prior to his release, he was reported to be suffering from a degree of muscular paralysis resulting from a stroke.[14]

Release and repatriation

Woo was among 17 long-term detainees released under a wider amnesty to mark President Kim Dae-jung's first year in office.[15] As a 70-year-old man, he walked free from the gates of Daejeon prison.[16] It was proposed that he be allowed to return to North Korea, where he had a wife and son,[17] in exchange for South Korean prisoners of war.[18] He returned to North Korea, though not in exchange for any imprisoned South Koreans, in early September 2000,[19][20] and was immediately awarded the National Reunification Prize.[21]

See also

References
  1. "Unconverted Long-Term Prisoners to Be Repatriated to N. Korea on 2 Sep.", The People's Korea, Chongryon, no. 146, 25 August 2000, archived from the original on 26 February 2012, retrieved 27 June 2010
  2. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40817F934590C768EDDAB0894D1494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fP%2fPolitical%20Prisoners South Korea Frees A 41-Year Captive, Reuters, 25 February 1999
  3. https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0914F939590C7A8EDDAD0894D1494D81&n=Top%2fReference%2fTimes%20Topics%2fSubjects%2fP%2fPolitical%20Prisoners Seoul Journal; Out at Last, Prisoner 3514 Catches Up on 40 Years, 29 April 1999, by Nicholas D. Kristof (New York Times)
  4. "Seoul Frees Political Prisoners". CBS News. 25 February 1999.
  5. "Solitary: Tough test of survival instinct". BBC News. 25 February 1999.
  6. http://www.iht.com/articles/1998/03/14/kor.t_7.php Kim's Decree Benefits Millions; Some Dissidents Are Left Out : South Korea Grants Sweeping Amnesty by Don Kirk, International Herald Tribune, 14 March 1998
  7. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA250151998?open&of=ENG-394 Archived 19 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine Amnesty International, 1998 South Korea country report
  8. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990226/ai_n10487064 North Korean ends 41 years in solitary, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 February 1999
  9. "BBC News | Asia-Pacific | Solitary: Tough test of survival instinct". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  10. http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA250151998?open&of=ENG-394 Archived 19 November 2006 at the Wayback Machine 1998 Amnesty International South Korea country report
  11. "BBC News | Asia-Pacific | 'Happy to see the light'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  12. https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/1999/02/25/world/main36530.shtml Seoul Frees Political Prisoners, CBS News, 1999
  13. http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19980314/07350704.html Indianexpress.com report of 14 March 1998 from Seoul
  14. https://www.amnesty.org/ailib/aireport/ar99/asa25.htm Archived 14 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine 1999 Amnesty International report for South Korea
  15. "BBC News | Asia-Pacific | 'Happy to see the light'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  16. "BBC News | Asia-Pacific | 'Happy to see the light'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  17. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990226/ai_n10487064 North Korean ends 41 years in solitary, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 26 February 1999
  18. "Happy to see the light". BBC News. 25 February 1999.
  19. "BBC News | ASIA-PACIFIC | Korean communists go home". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  20. https://fas.org/news/dprk/2000/dprk-000901b.htm Archived 9 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine 1 September 2000 correspondent report by Alisha Ryu, Federation of American scientists report for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
  21. "National reunification prizes awarded to unconverted long-term prisoners", Korean Central News Agency, 4 September 2000, archived from the original on 12 October 2014, retrieved 13 September 2012
  • BBC News report of 25 February 1999, including face image
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