South Korean Activist: 'I Was Tortured' in China

August 03, 2012 from LinkAsia

Kim Young-hwan, a South Korean activist who has campaigned extensively for North Korean human rights, was recently released after spending four months imprisoned in China. He speaks with MBC about his ordeal and his claims of torture.

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South Korea

South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a sovereign state located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The name "Korea" is derived from Goryeo, a dynasty which ruled in the Middle Ages. Its neighbors are China to the west, Japan to the east, and North Korea ... Explore this topic

Torture

Torture is the practice or act of deliberately inflicting severe physical pain and possibly injury on a person, though psychological and animal torture also exist. Torture has been carried out or sanctioned by individuals, groups and states throughout history from ancient time... Explore this topic

North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, commonly called North Korea, is a country in East Asia, in the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital is Pyongyang, the country's largest city by both land area and population. The Amnok River and the Tumen River form the ... Explore this topic

Human rights

Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian. These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal right... Explore this topic

Government of the People's Republic of China

All power within the government of the People's Republic of China is divided among several bodies: ⁕the political branch, the Communist Party of China ⁕the executive branch, the State Council ⁕the legislative branch, the National People's Congress. ⁕the judicial branch, the Su... Explore this topic

Prison

A prison, also known as gaol or jail, is a place in which people are physically confined and usually deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime. Other terms used are ... Explore this topic

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the People's Republic of China is an executive agency responsible for foreign relations between the People's Republic of China and other countries in the world. The agency is led by the Foreign Minister. The current minister... Explore this topic

Seoul

Seoul, officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of more than 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world. The Seoul Capital Area, which includes the surrounding Incheon metro... Explore this topic

Beijing

Peking ist die Hauptstadt der Volksrepublik China und hat eine über dreitausendjährige Geschichte. Der Name bedeutet Nördliche Hauptstadt. Peking ist heute eine regierungsunmittelbare Stadt, das heißt, sie ist direkt der Zentralregierung unterstellt und damit Provinzen, autono... Explore this topic

LinkAsia

From Beijng to Tokyo, from Seoul to New Delhi and beyond, LinkAsia takes viewers into media about Asia -- from Asia -- offering unfiltered insight into one of the most diverse, fast-paced regions of the globe. Each week, LinkAsia brings you a unique half-hour program that co... Explore this topic

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Transcript

Yul Kwon:
Now to another bilateral dispute. But this time, it's over a man and his claims of torture. Kim Young-hwan is a South Korean activist who campaigns for democracy in North Korea. He was imprisoned in China in March and charged with "endangering national security." In this interview with South Korean broadcaster MBC, he claims that Chinese authorities tortured him during his four-month detention.

Reporter:
Kim Young-hwan spoke out about the torture that he underwent for 114 days while detained in China.

Kim Young-hwan, South Korean Activist for North Korean Human Rights:
I was tortured by electric shock. It happened intensely on one night. I could smell my skin and hair burning.

Reporter:
Kim was able to meet the South Korean consul after 29 days in detention, after evidence of the torture had faded. Kim said that it was strange that the meeting had taken place after one month. Also, Kim revealed that China threatened to send him to North Korea.

Kim Young-hwan:
From day one, I was threatened a few times with repatriation to North Korea, along with cruel torture.

Reporter:
After the torture was revealed, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade decided to talk with 625 South Koreans who were also detained in China to investigate whether they were tortured.

Jo Tae-young, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade:
China is involved in the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Treatment. Therefore, we urge a more thorough investigation of this issue in the spirit of the convention.

Reporter:
The South Korean government will support Kim if he reports this issue to the UN. If China keeps denying the torture, the government will consider raising this issue before the international community. On the other hand, China has rejected all of Kim's allegations and insists that it guarantees Kim's legitimate rights.

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