“Russian-Ukraine War is a western conspiracy”: Far-left party leadership indicted for pro-North Korean activities

The Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office's Public Investigation Division 1 (headed by Yoon Soo-jung) confirmed on the 17th that it had indicted nine current and former officials of the People's Party (formerly the Restitution Welfare Party), including Han, the party leader, on non-detained charges of violating the National Security Act (forming a pro-North Korean organization, praising/encouraging) on July 9.
Han and others are accused of establishing the Restitution Welfare Party (renamed the People's Party in August 2017) in November 2016, inheriting the ideology and activities of the pro-North Korean organization "Korea Solidarity." Korea Solidarity was launched in November 2011 with the participation of six groups, including the 21st Century Korea Research Institute. The Supreme Court ruled in October 2016 that Korea Solidarity was "established to engage in activities sympathetic to North Korean ideology," upholding the conviction of Lee, a co-representative of Korea Solidarity, and others under the National Security Act.

According to the indictment obtained by this newspaper, the prosecution stated that the People's Party "described South Korea as a colony subordinate to the United States and actively embraced North Korea's revolutionary theory toward the South (the theory of national liberation and people's democracy revolution) by advocating for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea, the abolition of the National Security Act, and a federal unification with North Korea's socialist system." The prosecution also noted that the party classified South Korea and the U.S. as imperialist forces, while North Korea, China, and Russia as anti-imperialist forces, and evaluated the Russia-Ukraine war as "a scheme by Western imperialism led by the U.S."

Han and Jin, the party's labor committee chairperson, also face charges of producing and distributing pro-North Korean materials. The prosecution reported that Han and others produced the party's monthly organ, "The Engine of Struggle," from July 2019 until recently, disseminating North Korea's socialist system and Juche ideology domestically and using it for ideological education of members. In the February 2020 issue of "The Engine of Struggle," the party stated, "The history of North Korea's advanced weapons development must be reevaluated. Who can deny the strategic position of standing up against imperialism (such as the U.S.)?" This implies justification for North Korea's nuclear and missile development.
The People's Party was also found to have strongly criticized President Lee Jae Myung. In the December 2025 issue of "The Engine of Struggle," related to the South Korea-U.S. summit and investment projects in the U.S. in October 2025, the party claimed, "President Lee Jae Myung is a notorious bandit who thoroughly submitted by promising at least 350 billion dollars in investment to the invading U.S. and offering a gold crown and medals worth over 100 million Korean won."

Police, who have been investigating the case since 2024, are also probing whether a travel agency in Seoul's Seodaemun District is involved. The prosecution stated in the indictment that "the People's Party raised funds and recruited members through the travel agency." The agency recently unilaterally ceased operations, causing a series of damages. Meanwhile, police are pursuing Jo, the party's alleged "chief," who is reportedly staying in France.