National Security Law Violators Decrease by One-Tenth in Five Years

It was reported that the number of National Security Law violators have been on the constant decrease over the last five years.

According to documents handed in by the Ministry of Justice to Legislative and Judicial Committee assemblymen, the number of people booked for violations of the National Security Law was 506 in 1999, 286 in 2000, 247 in 2001, 231 in 2002, 165 in 2003, and 48 from January until April 2004.

The number of people arrested also decreased by a great number, from 312 in 1999 to 84 in 2003. The arrest percentage, too, decreased every year, from 61 percent in 1999, 51 percent in 2003, and 43 percent this year.

By region, Seoul recorded the highest number of violators, with 1,196 total between 1995 and 2004, and Jeonnam and Busan came in second and third, respectively, with 553 and 398 persons.

The number of National Security Law violators had been on the decrease from 1990 to 1993, but has been on the increase since then, with 877 people in 1997 and 688 people in 1998. However, the number has been steadily decreasing again since.

Soo-Jung Shin Jin-Kyun Kil crystal@donga.com leon@donga.com