[imText1]South Korean activist Choi Yong Hoon, who was arrested and imprisoned by the Chinese authorities for assisting ‘illegal’ N. Korean trespassers, was released on parole after 3 years and 11 months.
Choi was caught by the Chinese police in January 2003 while helping North Korean refugees escaping through boat from Yantai, China to South Korea.
GNP’s congresswoman Song Young Sun said Choi would be arrived in Seoul on the 29th. Choi was sentenced to serve five years and pay 30 thousands Chinese yuan fine.
According to the member of South Korean National Assembly, Choi’s early release was due to National Assembly’s petition in this August and former foreign minister and UN Secretary General-designate Ban Ki Moon’s request in September. Congresswoman Song contributed much part of this petition and urged the South Korean government’s diplomatic move to free Choi.
Doh Hee Yun, President of the Citizens’ Coalition for Human Rights of Abductees and NK Refugees, said Choi’s health condition had been severely worsened during imprisonment because of high blood pressure and diabetes. Choi would require a period of stabilization.
