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Court rules simply posting pro-NK messages on Facebook not violation of security law

September 8, 2015

The Daejeon District Court acquitted a 23-year-old Park indicted for violations of the National Security Law by praising socialism and endorsing arguments made by the North on Facebook.

DAEJEON (Yonhap) — A local court Tuesday said just posting messages of agreeing with North Korean ideologies on Facebook can’t be seen as promoting them in violation of a security law.

The Daejeon District Court acquitted a 23-year-old Park indicted for violations of the National Security Law by praising socialism and endorsing arguments made by the North on Facebook.

“Just writing on Facebook doesn’t lead to instigating rebellion in the country,” Judge Song Kyung-ho said.

The 23-year-old student was found to have posted those messages while being investigated on suspicion of participating in a group that supports the North. He was also acquitted of being involved in the group.

“While Park did participate in the camps organized by the group once or twice, he was only a first or second year student in college and there were other students who also participated individually,” Judge Song said.

No proof of Park regularly participating in the general meetings of the group was found, he added.

Park was found not guilt of all charges of breaching the National Security Law, but received a six-month jail term with two years of suspension for taking home firearm magazines and a grenade detonator he obtained while serving his military duties.

The National Security Law prohibits South Korean citizens from contacting North Koreans without government approval and engaging in activities benefiting the North.

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