<관련 영문 기사>
NIS conducts more raids on leftist leaders over treason charges
By Suk Gee-hyun
The spy agency on Tuesday raided the homes and offices of five more people affiliated with a far-left opposition party, whose lawmaker Lee Seok-ki has been accused of plotting to overthrow the government.
The National Intelligence Service simultaneously launched the seizure at 6:40 a.m. of the homes of United Progressive Party spokesman Hong Sung-kyu; Pyeongtaek city regional chairman Kim Yang-hyun; Ansan city’s Sangrok regional chairman Kim Seok-yong; Hwaseong labor rights center chief Choi Jin-sun; and Jinbo Korea committee chairman Yoon Young-bae.
Following the sudden raid, UPP spokeswoman Kim Jae-yeon accused the National Intelligence’s move as “an attempt to divert the public attention from the government’s failure to break the deadlock at Monday’s three-way talks.”
Scuffles occurred at some of the suspects’ homes when the authorities rushed in, reports said.
NIS officials said they found evidence in recorded files they secured that the five had close links with the so-called “Revolutionary Organization.”
The spy agency already raided the homes and offices of key members of the minor progressive party, including Lee, in August for violating the National Security Law.
The secret organization is known to have been led by Lee, who is currently detained at the Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office for further investigation.
Lee and 30 to 40 other leftists allegedly planned an armed revolt targeting communication lines and railways, in case of an inter-Korean war.
If the NIS finds more hard evidence from the seizure, it will add weight to the calls for the disqualification of Lee as a lawmaker, at the National Assembly’s Special Committee on Ethics.
Questions remain, however, over whether the NIS can secure enough hard evidence to indict Lee and disband the UPP.
Meanwhile, the prosecution is planning to bring three detained persons -- Hong Soon-seok, deputy chief of the UPP’s Gyeonggi Province branch; Han Dong-geun, chief of the party’s Suwon office; and Lee Sang-ho, an adviser at a progressive group based in Gyeonggi Province -- to trial after the Chuseok holidays.
Prosecutors are also said to be investigating a cleaning company in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, run by Lee’s acquaintances.
