Kim Jung-wook
Additional Name(s): Kim Jung-uk, 김정욱
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: North Korea
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Sentence: Life Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: October/8/2013
Date of Sentencing: May//2014
Current Status: Unknown
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Possession of Religious Materials Proselytizing Activities Religious Activity Religious Belief
Nature of Charges: Espionage Illegal Migration & Entry/Exit of Country Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Kim Jung-wook
Extra Bio Info:
Kim Jung-wook is imprisoned for his religious belief and activity.
On October 8, 2013, North Korean authorities reportedly arrested Kim Jung-wook, a South Korean missionary, after he allegedly entered North Korea with religious materials the day before. Prior to his arrest, Kim Jung-wook engaged in missionary work in Dandong city, Liaoning province, China, close to the North Korean border, providing pastoral services and humanitarian aid to North Korean refugees.
In February 2014, Kim Jung-wook was forced to confess his alleged crimes at a press conference, including working to establish underground churches.
In May 2014, it was reported that the Supreme Court sentenced Kim Jung-wook to life in prison with labor for conspiracy to subvert the State (Art. 60 Criminal Code), anti-State propaganda and agitation (Art. 62 Criminal Code), espionage (Art. 64 Criminal Code), and illegal border crossing (Art. 221 Criminal Code).
Kim Jung-wook has had no contact with his family since his arrest.
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