Arrest Warrants Dismissed for Minjung Democracy Party Leader and Secretary General on National Security Act Violation Charges

"Need to Guarantee Right to Defense Due to Disputable Charges"

Arrest warrants have been dismissed for Han Myunghee, leader of the Minjung Democracy Party, and others who were suspected of forming a pro-North Korea organization and staging protests demanding the withdrawal of U.S. Forces Korea—acts considered to support the enemy.

Press conference by the People's Democracy Party. Yonhap News Agency

On June 16, Lee Jong-rok, chief judge in charge of warrants at the Seoul Central District Court, conducted a pretrial detention hearing for Han, who was suspected of violating the National Security Act. The judge stated, "There are grounds for disputing the criminal charges, so it is necessary to guarantee the right to defense, and there is no apparent risk of destroying evidence or fleeing." The warrant for Han Junhye, secretary general of the Minjung Democracy Party, was also dismissed for the same reasons.

Earlier that morning around 9 a.m., Han and the Minjung Democracy Party held a press conference in front of the courthouse, claiming that the police investigation amounted to "public security oppression." Cha Eunjeong, head of the Chungnam Provincial Committee of the Minjung Democracy Party, said, "This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Minjung Democracy Party as a constitutional political party," and strongly condemned the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and the prosecution's public security authorities for allegedly attempting to dissolve the party.

Han also told reporters, "Once again, I want to make it clear that there is absolutely no connection whatsoever with North Korea."

Previously, the Security Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency had been investigating possible violations of the National Security Act by the Minjung Democracy Party since 2024. In August of the same year, the police conducted a search and seizure of the party's headquarters. In July of the previous year, they summoned the party leader and members as suspects and then executed another search and seizure warrant at the headquarters.

The police, believing it was necessary to secure the custody of Han and the secretary general among the officials identified as suspects, applied for arrest warrants on June 11.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.