SEOUL, South Korea — Over the past year, Choi Jin-young has tirelessly advocated for his father, a missionary currently sentenced to life in prison in North Korea. Choi has engaged with senior officials from the U.N. and United States, participated in public testimonies, and granted numerous interviews to the media. However, as he commemorates the tenth anniversary of his father’s arrest, he remains uncertain about his father’s whereabouts and condition.
With a heavy heart, Choi, a 34-year-old official working in a beer company, expressed, “I hold many fond memories of my father. As his son, it is my duty to strive for his return. I can only surmise that he is enduring an extremely challenging situation.”
His father, Choi Chun-kil, 65, is among at least six South Koreans who have seemingly vanished following their arrests and convictions in North Korea over the last decade. The group consists of three Christian missionaries, including Choi, as well as three North Korean defectors who previously settled in South Korea.
The circumstances surrounding the arrests remain murky. The three missionaries aimed to covertly introduce Christianity in North Korea, offering shelter and religious education to North Korean visitors. They were apprehended between 2013 and 2014 and subsequently accused of plotting against the North Korean government and spying for the South, leading to life sentences of hard labor.
Details about the defectors are scarce, but one was accused of attempting to kidnap North Korean children. The South Korean government has refrained from releasing their names due to family requests. Observers doubt their return to South Korea, as Pyongyang likely regards them as its own citizens.
The prolonged detention of the three missionaries raises questions, particularly since North Korea has generally deported or released American detainees within two to three years. The North maintains a stringent stance against religion, viewing foreign evangelism as a threat to the authority of its ruling Kim family. Experts suspect that North Korea may have deliberately enticed these South Korean missionaries into its territory for the purpose of arrest, fabricating or amplifying the charges against them.
The detained missionaries have been denied consular assistance and any means of communication with their families in South Korea. Since their initial detainment, they have not been seen again, except for press conferences in Pyongyang, where they were compelled to publicly confess and apologize for their supposed crimes. Experts assert that these forced statements were likely scripted by North Korean officials.
Conditions for the missionaries could be harsh; however, they are expected to be comparatively better than those faced by North Korean prisoners. Kim Jeong-sam, the brother of another imprisoned missionary, Kim Jung Wook, shares that he prays for his sibling three times daily. He expressed how he often thinks of his brother, particularly when he uses hot water, wondering if his brother has access to similar comforts.
The specific locations of the South Koreans’ detention in North Korea remain unknown. Experts suggest they are likely kept isolated from North Korean inmates to prevent any potential ideological influence. The South Korean Unification Ministry stated in response to inquiries that North Korea has not acknowledged its repeated requests for confirmation on the detainees’ wellbeing. However, it is believed that North Korea might not have mistreated the prisoners due to South Korea’s outreach to the global community.
Hyeon Soo Lim, a Canadian pastor who spent two years in a North Korean prison, indicated that he was kept in an isolated facility and primarily was the only inmate until he encountered another American detainee in his final months. Lim, who performed strenuous labor six days a week, was allowed access to a Bible and could communicate occasionally with his family. He mentioned seeking medical attention multiple times.
Kenneth Bae, another former American prisoner, corroborated Lim’s account, noting that while he did not experience severe mistreatment, conditions varied. The case of Otto Warmbier, an American student who died shortly after his release from a coma, underscores the potential dangers of captivity.
Experts generally conclude that the three South Korean missionaries likely have not received similar treatment to warmbier’s, but their conditions are anticipated to be more favorable than those of North Korean prisoners. Former North Korean defector Gwon Hyojin recounted that a significant number of inmates die each day due to malnutrition and violence.
Discussion arises regarding what more Seoul could do to facilitate the return of its citizens. Some analysts argue that while North Korea may prioritize its relationship with the U.S., it has little interest in the plight of South Koreans. Others contend that South Korea’s government has inadequately pursued the return of its nationals, shifting focus to other pressing matters such as North Korean nuclear ambitions.
Legal analyst Ethan Hee-Seok Shin remarked that heightened public interest could compel North Korea to reconsider its approach to the detainees, potentially ensuring better treatment for them.
In a shift from past policies, President Yoon Suk Yeol’s administration has been vocal about North Korean human rights violations at global forums, advocating for the cases of the detained missionaries. Nonetheless, the ongoing political turmoil stemming from Yoon’s recent impeachment poses a risk to these efforts.
Communication between the two Koreas has faced stagnation for years, especially after Kim Jong Un’s recent declarations characterizing South Korea as a hostile entity. Yet, there remain voices within South Korea, including pastor Peter Jung, urging optimism for future diplomatic engagements that could lead to the release of the missionaries. “If we persist in advocating for their release and sustain momentum for dialogue, we may one day have an opportunity to secure their return,” Jung asserted.
