Leftists arrested in SK by National Intelligence Service

[Arumdaum]

http://www.arirang.co.kr/News/News_View.asp?nseq=150725
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news ... tist-party
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/29/world ... .html?_r=0
http://www.dailynk.com/english/read.php ... &num=10898
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/nationa ... 2315F.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unified_Progressive_Party
National Security Act

Looks like Bak Geun-hye's returning the country to the way it was under her father.

In 2012, she was elected with a huge amount of support from Korea's older generation, winning senior citizens by a margin of around 50%, largely due to her association with her father, dictator Park Chung-hee, who's said to have laid the foundations for South Korea's later economic growth with things such as his Five Year Plans. On the other hand, younger voters rejected by a pretty large amount, with the opposition candidate Moon Jae-in winning younger voters by a margin of around 30%.

She managed to do a pretty great job of disassociating herself with the previous president, Lee Myung-bak, who had a pretty horrible reputation, was president during the 2008-2009 global recession, saw Korea's press freedom rating going from "free" to "partly free," had numerous scandals surrounding him and his party, with his approval rating hitting a low of 17% before he left office with an approval rating of around 20%.

But yeah, looks like she's turning out to be not so great.

The claims that they're "pro-North Korea" seem to be entirely unfounded, and pretty much seems to refer to anyone who isn't a staunch anti-communist. South Korea has a pretty long history of framing people as communists and NK-sympathizers and then detaining, torturing, and executing them without trial, although this largely stopped after the democratization of Korea during the late 1980's, and the last person to be indicted for treason dates back to South Korea's military dictatorship during that period. The NIS isn't exactly known for being politically neutral either, considering its former head was indicted for interfering with the 2012 presidential election by ordering a team of intelligence agents to organize a smear campaign against the opposition and critics of the government.

However, this doesn't mean that all arrests and imprisoning stopped after, such as with the example of a woman being sentenced to two years in prison for possessing "pro-North Korean" songs on a USB storage device in November of 2010.

Lee Seok-ki, who although luckily benefits from parliamentary immunity, has fled while his office was being raided, and his current whereabouts are unknown. There've been more raids into the homes and offices of these people, though, three of whom are currently detained.

But either way, this is pretty disgusting.

[European Socialist Republic]

A Korean McCarthy? Really?

[The Joseon Dynasty]

A Korean McCarthy? Really?

This has been going on for a long time.

[Arumdaum]

A Korean McCarthy? Really?

It used to be worse haha

[Starkiller101]

just another day in korea

[Arumdaum]

just another day in korea

:'(

</3

at least the heat wave's set to end/has ended

[The Rich Port]

Things are getting real uncomfortable in the Old World recently.

First Russia, now this most recent incident from the SK government (I had heard this has been going on for awhile).

The hell is going on over there?

[Bojikami]

*sigh*
McCarthyism never benefits anyone.

[Wolfmanne]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

[Seitonjin]

Well then.

South Korea, you lost my respect. First fundie Christians destroying Buddhist heritage and now this? You disappoint. A lot.

East Asia Y U SO WEIRD?!

[The Rich Port]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

That doesn't make it any more correct.

Also, North Korea? Seriously? Please.

[Blasveck]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

And what the hell is North Korea going to do?

Fling paper airplanes at them?

A majority of their population is either starving, in forced labor camps, or most likely both.

[Arumdaum]

Things are getting real uncomfortable in the Old World recently.

First Russia, now this most recent incident from the SK government (I had heard this has been going on for awhile).

The hell is going on over there?

the threats to samsung's profit margins can't be tolerated clearly

[Shaggai]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

America was no more right than SK to accept McCarthyism. It is understandable that this would happen, yes, but it is still wrong.

[European Socialist Republic]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

And what the hell is North Korea going to do?

Fling paper airplanes at them?

A majority of their population is either starving, in forced labor camps, or most likely both.

Paper airplanes can be very dangerous, especially if they hit your eye.
Luckily, I don't think North Korea has paper, so...

[Indochinamerica]

*sigh*
McCarthyism never benefits anyone.

Except the bourgeoisie.

[Arumdaum]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

Actually, no, South Korea hasn't really been under any threat from North Korea since at least the 1970's.

[The Rich Port]

Things are getting real uncomfortable in the Old World recently.

First Russia, now this most recent incident from the SK government (I had heard this has been going on for awhile).

The hell is going on over there?

the threats to samsung's profit margins can't be tolerated clearly

"WAT?! THEY HAVE PULLED OUR ANGRY BIRDS CONTRACT BECAUSE OF PROTESTUH?! TEAR GAS THEM-U!"

[Wolfmanne]

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

That doesn't make it any more correct.

Also, North Korea? Seriously? Please.

What people like to forget is that South Korea is under constant threat from North Korea, especially in regards to espionage. America did similar things during the Cold War; South Korea has the right to do this in the last remnant of the Cold War.

And what the hell is North Korea going to do?

Fling paper airplanes at them?

A majority of their population is either starving, in forced labor camps, or most likely both.

Last time I checked, none of you are a part of the National Intelligence Service, or a South Korean prosecutor, or for that matter have any involvement in the legal system of South Korea. I believe that they would have reasonable intelligence to assume that this group of people is a reasonable threat.

What could North Korea do? Well, they have a history of conducting espionage operations in South Korea. All countries have foreign intelligence officers in them; the US has Russian and Chinese officers, a number of whom have been found. A Russian spy was poisoned in London a few years ago. It's just that their operations are so sensitive that the media doesn't report it, for obvious reasons, unless the government has something to gain from it or it's so high profile it can't be kept a secret.

It seems NS is conducting a trial by media with a verdict of 'not guilty'. The South Korean legal system can determine that for themselves. Don't assume you're qualified to determine the guilt of someone.

[Genivaria]

Oh Nippon would just looove this.

[Vistulange]

-snip-

Because I'm sure you'd absolutely be okay with the police raiding your home, going through your shit and detaining you for being a follower of [insert undesirable ideology], saying "oh, they know how to work it out, I'll be fine".

[The Rich Port]

That doesn't make it any more correct.

Also, North Korea? Seriously? Please.

And what the hell is North Korea going to do?

Fling paper airplanes at them?

A majority of their population is either starving, in forced labor camps, or most likely both.

Last time I checked, none of you are a part of the National Intelligence Service, or a South Korean prosecutor, or for that matter have any involvement in the legal system of South Korea. I believe that they would have reasonable intelligence to assume that this group of people is a reasonable threat.

What could North Korea do? Well, they have a history of conducting espionage operations in South Korea. All countries have foreign intelligence officers in them; the US has Russian and Chinese officers, a number of whom have been found. A Russian spy was poisoned in London a few years ago. It's just that their operations are so sensitive that the media doesn't report it, for obvious reasons, unless the government has something to gain from it or it's so high profile it can't be kept a secret.

It seems NS is conducting a trial by media with a verdict of 'not guilty'. The South Korean legal system can determine that for themselves. Don't assume you're qualified to determine the guilt of someone.

Seeing as how I could be called for jury duty at any moment, I'm not sure I understand your argument there.

I don't need to be part of an intelligence service to know how to conduct surveillance and how propaganda works.

They're over-reacting and violating the free speech rights of their citizens for no good reason.

[Wolfmanne]

-snip-

Because I'm sure you'd absolutely be okay with the police raiding your home, going through your shit and detaining you for being a follower of [insert undesirable ideology], saying "oh, they know how to work it out, I'll be fine".

I don't have an extremist ideology though, so I have nothing to worry about.

[Kaito Corporation]

Japanese moderates and right wingers are having a field day.

This is a disappointment. A huge one.

[Arumdaum]

That doesn't make it any more correct.

Also, North Korea? Seriously? Please.

And what the hell is North Korea going to do?

Fling paper airplanes at them?

A majority of their population is either starving, in forced labor camps, or most likely both.

Last time I checked, none of you are a part of the National Intelligence Service, or a South Korean prosecutor, or for that matter have any involvement in the legal system of South Korea. I believe that they would have reasonable intelligence to assume that this group of people is a reasonable threat.

What could North Korea do? Well, they have a history of conducting espionage operations in South Korea. All countries have foreign intelligence officers in them; the US has Russian and Chinese officers, a number of whom have been found. A Russian spy was poisoned in London a few years ago. It's just that their operations are so sensitive that the media doesn't report it, for obvious reasons, unless the government has something to gain from it or it's so high profile it can't be kept a secret.

It seems NS is conducting a trial by media with a verdict of 'not guilty'. The South Korean legal system can determine that for themselves. Don't assume you're qualified to determine the guilt of someone.

So clearly, since its something the government doesn't tell us about, we should just simply accept that whoever the government detains and arrests must be a threat to society, even when the organization has a history of framing people and interfering in elections to hurt the opposition and critics.