34 student activists convicted of illegal entry into presidential compound, US base
A court on Thursday found 34 student activists guilty of trespassing on the then presidential compound and a U.S. military base between 2022 and 2024. The Seoul Western District Court sentenced a senior leader of the Korean Progressive University Student Union (KPUSU) to a suspended four-month prison term and ordered 32 other members to pay fines ranging from 1 million won ($756) to 6 million…
A court sentenced 34 student activists to legal penalties on Thursday for illegally entering the former presidential residence and a United States military base in South Korea between 2022 and 2024, according to prosecutors. The Seoul Western District Court gave a senior KPUSU leader a suspended four-month prison term and fined the remaining 32 members between 1 million won and 6 million won. One member received a deferred sentence of 1 million won, while two others were charged but later acquitted.
The students were accused of multiple offenses, including trespassing on a U.S. military installation in August 2022 and March 2023 to protest joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States. In January and October 2024, they attempted to illegally enter the former presidential compound in Seoul's Yongsan Ward, demanding the resignation of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol and a special counsel investigation into then-first lady Kim Keon Hee.
The court concluded that the defendants did not act on a whim but planned their actions in advance, such as sharing protest signs.
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