Former KCTU official sentenced to 15 years in prison in first trial for 'spying charges'

Former KCTU official handed over the number of 300 lawmakers who were sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first trial

...Leaked union communication network information"

Two other former KCTU officials, seven years in prison and five years in prison

3 people in prison, arrested in court..."Worried to run away".

[Anchor]
A former executive of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who was put on trial for violating the National Security Law, was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the first trial.

The court referred to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as the "general chairman" and explained the reason for the heavy sentence, saying that the accused, who swore allegiance, committed a crime that could topple liberal democracy.

This is a report by reporter Choi Kyung-woo.

[Reporter]
From 2017 to 2022, the first trial date was held for Seok, a former KCTU official who was arrested and charged in May last year on charges of spying or contacting North Korean agents abroad under orders from North Korea.

[Mr. Seok / Former KCTU official: (Do you admit to reporting to North Korea after receiving orders from North Korea?)]. (Do you admit that you were instructed to meet a North Korean agent?) ....]

The court sentenced Seok to 15 years in prison for violating the National Security Law.

The court saw that Seok received orders from North Korea more than a hundred times and wrote a report to provide confidential state information.

Seok refers to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un as the 'general meeting president' and wrote in a report to North Korea that he received 'full of the president's energy,'

We found it guilty of handing over the mobile phone numbers of all 300 members of the 21st National Assembly to the North and leaking the ID and password of the internal communication network of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

The court stressed that Seok's actions are a big crime that destroys liberal democracy.

It also said it has lost public support and trust in the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, adding that it is bound to face severe punishment.Two former executives of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who were handed over to trial along with

seok, were sentenced to seven years in prison and five years, respectively.

However, Shin, the former head of the Federation of Korean Confederation under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, was acquitted, saying that he and Seok cannot be considered close and that he was engaged in espionage activities.Three people sentenced to prison, including

Seok, were arrested in court for fear of escape.

I'm YTN's facial expression Woo.

Reporter for shooting
: Jang Myung-ho
Video editing: Joo Hye-min