The head of a private group who brought North Korean literary works into Korea and published them without government approval was also fined on appeal.
According to legal sources on the 14th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Appeals Division 8-3 (Presiding Judges Choi Jin-suk, Cha Seung-hwan and Choi Hae-il) recently fined Jeong Ik-hyeon, head of the South-North Economic General Unification Farming Cooperative (Unification Nonghyup), 2 million won on charges of violating the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.
The sentence is lighter than the 3 million won fine imposed in the first trial.
Jeong is accused of bringing into Korea, without the approval of the Minister of Unification between 2018 and 2020, North Korean novels or USBs containing novels on three occasions.
The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act provides that when exporting or importing goods between the two Koreas, approval from the Ministry of Unification must be obtained regarding the transaction form, payment method, and other matters.
Jeong was found to have used a Chinese company as an intermediary to sign a contract with the North Korean Copyright Office and bring a total of 22 novels, including "Donguibogam" and "Three ministers of Goguryeo," into Korea.
Around Jan. 2020, he also held a press conference without approval from the Ministry of Unification and sold "Donguibogam" for 25,000 won per copy.
In the first trial in March last year, Jeong argued, "The books received from the Chinese company are Chinese goods, not North Korean goods," but the court did not accept this.
The first-instance court said, "China was merely a stopover in the course of transportation," and added, "The defendant recognized that approval from the Minister of Unification was required, but when the approval was delayed, proceeded with publication without obtaining import approval."
The appellate court also imposed a fine, but reduced the amount after finding part of the charges not guilty.
Regarding the charge that Jeong received nine North Korean novels from the head of a Chinese intermediary at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, around July 2018, the appellate court said, "He received novels that had already been lawfully brought into the country by the intermediary's head."
It went on to explain part of the acquittal by saying, "In light of the fact that the defendant applied for import approval from the Ministry of Unification six days later to obtain domestic publication approval, it is difficult to see that the defendant had intent to violate the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act."