S. Korean arts company head nabbed for contacting N.K. spies
2013/11/29 16:52
SEOUL, Nov. 29 (Yonhap) -- The head of a local performing arts company has been arrested on charges of contacting North Korean spies, in violation of South Korea's security law, the state intelligence agency said Friday.
Jeon Sik-reol, who leads a small progressive arts company called Chool, is under suspicion of frequently contacting agents of the United Front Department and Office 225 under the North's Workers' Party of Korea in China, said South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS).
Under the anti-communist National Security Law, South Koreans are banned from making unauthorized contact with people from North Korea.
The NIS alleges that Jeon, also a member of the minor opposition Unified Progressive Party (UPP) embroiled in a high-profile rebellion scandal, handed over various information about the party to Pyongyang.
Jeon is also suspected of frequently meeting with members of clandestine Revolutionary Organization (RO) led by Rep. Lee Seok-ki of the UPP. The lawmaker and RO members are currently standing trials on charges of plotting to overthrow the South Korean government in the event of an inter-Korean war.
Chool, founded in 1999, is an eight-member performing arts company that holds traditional dance performances and often participates in rallies held by progressive and labor civic groups.
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