The first incident occurred on August 14, 1965. The Korean Central Intelligence Agency (KCIA) claimed Do Ye-jong (도예종, 都禮鐘), Yang Choon-woo (양춘우, 楊春遇), Park Hyun-chae (박현채) and ten other individuals organized the People's Revolutionary Party. According to the National Intelligence Service (successor to the KCIA in 1981), this was "an organization attempting to overthrow the Republic of Korea according to North Korean programs"[This quote needs a citation] that "tried to recruit more people from various backgrounds to expand the party structure."[This quote needs a citation] Do, Yang and Park and other six were sentenced to six years imprisonment, while the others were sentenced to a year of imprisonment and three years probation.
The second incident, also known as the "Committee for Re-establishment of the People's Revolutionary Party (PRP) Incident" (in Korean: 인민혁명당 재건위원회 사건) in South Korea, took place on April 9, 1975. In December 1972, the Park Chung-Hee government launched the "Yushin-system": an anti-constitutional system in favor of Park's autocracy named after the Meiji Restoration of Japan. Also, the abduction of Kim Dae-jung, a leading politician of the opposing party added to the anger of South Korean people caused by the Yushin system. From October 1973, demonstrations against the Park government gained strength.
Meanwhile, on April 3, 1974, President Park announced the existence of an extreme socialist group: the "People's Revolutionary Party", and prohibited all activities related to the party.
As demonstrations increased against the dictatorship of Park Chung-hee, the KCIA arrested 1024 individuals without warrant, including Do Yejong on April 25, 1974 under the National Security Law. 253 of them were imprisoned. On April 9, 1975, the Supreme Court of South Korea sentenced to death Do Yejong, Yeo Jeongnam, Kim Yongwon, Lee Subyeong, Ha Jaewan, Seo Dowon, Song Sangjin, and Woo Hongseon. Only 18 hours after the announcement of the death penalty, the government executed the eight individuals:
More information English name, Korean name ...
English name | Korean name | Hanja | Age |
Do Ye-jong | 도예종 | 都禮鐘 | 52 |
Yeo Jeong-nam | 여정남 | 呂正男 | 32 |
Kim Yong-won | 김용원 | 金鏞元 | 41 |
Lee Soo-byeong | 이수병 | 李銖秉 | 40 |
Ha Jae-wan | 하재완 | 河在完 | 44 |
Seo Do-won | 서도원 | 徐道源 | 53 |
Song Sang-jin | 송상진 | 宋相振 | 48 |
Woo Hong-seon | 우홍선 | 禹洪善 | 46 |
Close