Key facts
- 34 student activists convicted of trespassing.
- Convictions include entry into a U.S. military base and the presidential compound.
- Actions occurred between 2022 and 2024.
- One leader received a suspended prison sentence; others fined.
- Court cited pre-meditation and potential national security threat.
A South Korean court on Thursday convicted 34 student activists of trespassing on the presidential compound and a U.S. military base between 2022 and 2024. The Seoul Western District Court sentenced a senior leader of the Korean Progressive University Student Union (KPUSU) to a suspended four-month prison term, while 32 other members were ordered to pay fines ranging from 1 million won (US$756) to 6 million won. One additional member received a deferred sentence of a 1 million-won fine, and two others were acquitted.
The students were charged with multiple offenses, including trespassing on a U.S. military installation in August 2022 and March 2023 to protest joint military exercises. They also attempted to illegally enter the presidential compound in January and October 2024, demanding the resignation of then President Yoon Suk Yeol and a special counsel investigation into then first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The court determined that the defendants had pre-planned their actions, citing shared picket signs and discussions about execution plans. The court stated that these actions could have threatened national security, as the presidential office was located within the defense ministry compound, and emphasized that freedom of expression should be exercised within the legal framework.