Koreans in Japan found not guilty after 50 years of 'spying'

The second generation of Koreans in Japan, who were falsely accused of being a spy during the Park Chung-hee administration, was found not guilty after 50 years.

The Supreme Court today (14th) upheld the original ruling that acquitted the late Choi Chang-il, who was indicted on charges of violating the National Security Law.

After the ruling, Choi said he welcomed the Supreme Court ruling, but urged the bereaved families to apologize for continuing the second offense, including the prosecution appealing against the acquittal.

Choi, the second generation of Koreans in Japan, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking state secrets after entering Korea in 1973.

Choi served six years in prison until he was released as a special envoy for Liberation Day, and his daughter, who learned of the case after Choi's death, filed for a retrial with the court in 2020.