South Korean Man Sentenced to Jail for Praising North Korea in Poem

(CTN News) – A guy who was 68 years old and had written a poem that praised the North Korean government was given a sentence of fourteen months in prison by a court in South Korea.

According to statements made by South Korean media, Lee Yoon-seop called for the unification of the country in an article published in the state media of the North in 2016.

In his writing, he stated that if the two Koreas were united under the socialist government of Pyongyang, then the people would be provided with free housing, healthcare, and education.

He was found guilty of the crime because of a statute that makes it illegal to publicly admire North Korea.

In the article titled “Means of Unification,” Lee also suggested that under a unified Korea, there would be a reduction in the number of persons who have committed suicide or who are living in debt.

One of the poems that won a poetry competition in the North in November of 2016 was this one.

According to The Korea Herald, Lee had formerly served a sentence of ten months in prison for a crime that was very similar to this one.

According to the Korea Herald, a court in Seoul stated in its verdict that he “continued to generate and disseminate a considerable amount of propaganda that glorified and praised the North.” This ruling was issued on Monday.

In 2013, he published comments on the internet that praised the military of North Korea. Subsequently, in future years, he published stuff that was critical of the state on South Korean blogs and websites.

The National Security Act of South Korea includes a provision that makes it illegal to applaud and promote “anti-government” organizations.