TV
The Tragic Tale of Lee Soo-geun: From Hero to Double Agent
The episode, which aired on the 19th, focused on the 'Lee Soo-geun Spy Fabrication Case.' Lee, who defected to South Korea seeking freedom, was executed after being falsely accused of espionage. Actors Kim Sung-ryung, Hwang Jae-yeol, and Lee Joo-an joined as listeners, expressing their outrage at the historical injustice.
The story began in March 1967 at the Joint Security Area of Panmunjom, where a North Korean journalist defected during a Military Armistice Commission meeting. The defector was Lee Soo-geun, a high-ranking journalist from the Korean Central News Agency and a former personal reporter for Kim Il-sung. His daring escape shook South Korean society.
Lee's escape unfolded like a movie. As soon as the meeting ended, he leaped into a UN vehicle. In a tense moment before gunfire, the vehicle sped through Panmunjom at 120 km/h, dodging 40 bullets fired by North Korean soldiers. Kim Sung-ryung remarked, "Everyone desires freedom, but it takes immense courage to act on it."
Initially celebrated as a 'Hero of Freedom,' Lee was warmly welcomed by the South Korean public. Over 100,000 people gathered in Seoul, and a petition to bring his family from North Korea garnered 1.3 million signatures in just two months. However, a year later, the situation drastically changed. Lee was arrested at the airport with his niece-in-law, Bae Kyung-ok, under suspicion of being a 'double agent' with forged passports and disguises.
When it was revealed that his escape was allegedly orchestrated by North Korea, public admiration turned to anger. Effigies of Lee were burned in the streets. On the second anniversary of his defection in March 1969, he was sentenced to death, and the execution was carried out just 54 days later. For years, this was considered the end of the story.
After defecting, Lee became a prominent anti-communist lecturer. The problem was that his harsh criticism of Kim Il-sung endangered his family in North Korea. This delicate situation fueled suspicion from intelligence agencies, leading to constant surveillance. His home, car, and phone were bugged, and he faced violence and threats. Hwang Jae-yeol lamented, "Just hearing about it is suffocating."
Ultimately, Lee attempted to seek asylum in a neutral country, stating, "I left the North because I disliked it, but there was no freedom in the South either." He was arrested in Vietnam, finding no refuge in either Korea. His choice to leave the North resulted in deep trauma, and his rejection in the South led to further loss. Lee Joo-an commented, "He just wanted to live. The world is too harsh."
After being sentenced to death in the first trial, Lee expressed his intention to appeal, but the sentence was confirmed without an appeal. Intelligence agents monitored him in prison, and the Central Intelligence Agency labeled him a spy to cover up their failure to prevent his escape. It was revealed that Lee's false confession was extracted through brutal torture involving electricity, water, and clubs. Hwang Jae-yeol expressed regret, saying, "I'm sorry for doubting him as a spy."
In 2018, Lee was posthumously acquitted, 49 years after his execution. 'Kkokomu' sought out his niece-in-law, Bae Kyung-ok, who had served a 20-year sentence but found she had already passed away from a heart attack. Lee's grave remains unmarked, buried in a plot for unclaimed bodies, highlighting the tragedy of their lives.
Kim Sung-ryung reflected, "It's bittersweet, but there are those who strive to uncover the truth. Injustice is the most infuriating thing in life." The hosts, Jang Hyun-sung, Jang Sung-kyu, and Jang Do-yeon, concluded, "We hope Lee Soo-geun is remembered as a person who truly sought freedom, even if his name isn't on a gravestone."
Tae Yuna, TenAsia Reporter youyou@tenasia.co.kr