O Yeong-pil Returns After Detention In China

Journalist O Yeong-pil, 34, and other one Korean arrived at Incheon Airport last Saturday after 16 months of detention in China. They were arrested on charges of helping North Korean defectors and released after a court acquitted them of those charges.

In March, Chinese authorities arrested Mr. O after finding his attempt to make contact with defectors residing in Guangzhou in order to photograph scenes of asylum seekers intruding into foreign embassies. Mr. O did that under contract with a Japanese broadcasting company, which asked not to be named.

A source connected to Mr. O’s case said, “We know that, after consultation with the Supreme Court, Guangzhou’s local court exonerated him of the charge,” alluding that this decision will not be altered. However, he added, “The Chinese authorities may press another charge against the defector-supporting groups in accordance with future situations.”

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com