# Unconverted long-term prisoners

"Unconverted long-term prisoners" is the North Korean term for northern loyalists imprisoned in South Korea who never renounced Juche. The North Korean government considers them to be "pro-reunification patriotic fighters", while South Korean scholars have described them as "pro-communist spies".

## History

In March 1998, South Korean president Kim Dae-jung declared an amnesty for long-term prisoners over the age of 70, as well as some suffering from disease. In February 1999, President Kim declared another amnesty for 17 unconverted long-term prisoners. In 2000, as part of the June 15th North–South Joint Declaration, sixty-three of the prisoners were permitted to settle in North Korea. There were hopes that North Korea would reciprocate by releasing Southern prisoners of war still detained in the North. A number of them left behind family members in the South; the South's Ministry of Unification refused permission to let the family members go north with them. They crossed the border by bus through the truce village of Panmunjom at 10 AM on 2 September 2000, while a group of Southern protesters decried their return and demanded that the North return abducted Southerners; they were welcomed on the Northern side by a reception with a brass band playing revolutionary songs, and each was later awarded the National Reunification Prize.

## In literature and film

A book about their experiences was published in North Korea in 2001. In 2003, South Korean director Kim Dong-won released Repatriation, a documentary about the unconverted prisoners, based on more than 12 years and 800 hours of filming.

## List of prisoners who crossed over to North Korea in 2000

Following is a list of the 63 prisoners who went to North Korea in 2000.
Personal names are given in McCune–Reischauer romanisation of the Northern spelling (thus surnames are spelled Ri instead of Yi, Ryu instead of Yu, etc.); place names are given in McCune–Reischauer without diacritics for places now in North Korea, and Revised Romanisation for places now in South Korea.
| Name | Hangul | Hanja | Birth/death dates | Place of birth | Province of birth | Years in prison | Notes |
| Kang Tong-gŭn | 강동근 | | (1916-11-19)19 November 1916 12 February 2004(2004-02-12) (aged 87) | Hadong | Gyeongsangnam-do | 37 | Obituary published by KCNA |
| Kim Tong-gi | 김동기 | 金東基 or 金東起 | (1932-11-19)19 November 1932 | Tanchon | South Hamgyong | 34 | Interviewed by Kyunghyang Shinmun before his repatriation. Published a book of essays about his experiences (새는 앉는 곳마다 깃을 남긴다, ISBN 978-89-88996-04-1). Two different hanja versions of his name have been reported in the media. Birthdate given as (1932-10-19)19 October 1932 in 70th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. In August 2005, the KCNA reported in that he gave a speech to a visiting group of students from the Chongryon-affiliated Korea University. |
| Kim Myŏng-su | 김명수 | | (1922-05-01)1 May 1922 | Hamhung | South Hamgyong | 37 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Kim Sŏk-hyŏng | 김석형 | | (1914-03-18)18 March 1914 14 August 2006(2006-08-14) (aged 92) | Pakchon | North Pyongan | 30 | Also spelled Kim Suk-hyung. One of the prisoners featured in the film Repatriation. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| Kim Sŏn-myŏng | 김선명 | | (1925-02-20)20 February 1925 | Yangpyeong | Gyeonggi-do | 45 | Also spelled Kim Sun-myung. Joined the Korean People's Army due to disgust over the prevalence of Japanese collaborators in the South Korean administration. Captured on 15 October 1951, and sentenced to death; sentence commuted to life imprisonment. Family refused to see him; had him declared legally dead in 1975. Released in 1995. Blind due to cataracts left untreated by prison doctors. His experiences were the basis for the 2002 film The Road Taken, starring Kim Jung-gi. |
| Kim Yŏng-dal | 김영달 | | (1934-03-18)18 March 1934 | Yeongdeok | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 30 | 70th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Kim Yŏng-man | 김영만 | | (1924-11-15)15 November 1924 | Gurye | Jeollanam-do | 30 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in September 2008. |
| Kim Yŏng-tae | 김영태 | | (1931-07-23)23 July 1931 14 January 2008(2008-01-14) (aged 76) | Kwaksan | North Pyongan | 35 | Also spelled Kim Yong-thae. Trapped in South Korea after the Korean War, and fought as a guerilla in the Jirisan area. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| Kim Yŏng-gyu | 김용규 | | (1923-06-22)22 June 1923 | Boseong | Jeollanam-do | 34 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Kim Yong-su | 김용수 | | (1931-09-30)30 September 1931 | Gyeongju | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 27 | KCNA gives his year of birth as 1932 in an announcement of his 70th birthday. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in June 2003. |
| Kim U-taek | 김우택 | | (1919-10-28)28 October 1919 | Andong | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 40 | 90th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Kim Ŭn-hwan | 김은환 | | (1930-07-12)12 July 1930 | Gwangju | Gyeonggi-do | 31 | Also spelled Kim Eun-hwan. Released in the February 1999 amnesty. Joined the Korean Painters' Union after moving to the North. 90th birthday congratulations published by Rodong Sinmun. |
| Kim Ik-jin | 김익진 | | (1932-07-13)13 July 1932 8 July 2008(2008-07-08) (aged 75) | Yeongdeok | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 31 | Also known as Kim Il-jin. Released in the February 1999 amnesty. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| Kim In-su | 김인수 | | (1926-11-18)18 November 1926 | Tokchon | South Pyongan | 34 | In June 2001, KCNA reported that he gave a speech to a delegation of visiting students from Korea University of Japan. |
| Kim In-sŏ | 김인서 | | (1924-05-27)27 May 1924 17 August 2008(2008-08-17) (aged 84) | Daegu | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 36 | Applied to resettle in the North in 1996, but was rejected. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| Kim Chong-ho | 김종호 | | (1916-08-02)2 August 1916 21 November 2003(2003-11-21) (aged 87) | Gimcheon | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 31 | Obituary published by KCNA |
| Kim Chung-jong | 김중종 | | (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 | Gimcheon | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 29 | Received a doctorate in linguistics in 2003. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Kim Chang-wŏn | 김창원 | 金昌源 | (1934-10-27)27 October 1934 | Yeongdeungpo-gu | Seoul | 31 | 70th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in April 2006. Interviewed by The Pyongyang Times in September 2008. |
| Ko Kwang-in | 고광인 | 高光仁 | (1935-01-05)5 January 1935 | Gochang | Jeollabuk-do | 34 | An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in May 2003. KCNA published 70th birthday congratulations in February 2005, but did not give a birthdate. |
| Ryu Un-hyŏng | 류운형 | | (1924-12-26)26 December 1924 22 November 2008(2008-11-22) (aged 83) | Riwon | South Hamgyong | 34 | Prior to his arrest, held various political posts including head of the Youth Department of the Chorwon, Kangwon, Committee of the WPK and chief of the education section of the Information Department of the Kangwon Provincial Committee of the WPK. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| Ryu Yŏn-chŏl | 류연철 | | (1912-02-13)13 February 1912 | Andong | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 27 | KCNA gives his date of birth as (1912-03-26)26 March 1912 in his 90th birthday announcement |
| Ryu Han-uk | 류한욱 | | (1911-05-24)24 May 1911 | Cholsan | North Pyongan | 37 | KCNA gives his year of birth as 1917 in his 90th birthday announcement |
| Ri Kyŏng-gu | 리경구 | | (1930-03-04)4 March 1930 | Gongju | Chungcheongnam-do | 38 | An essay of his was published in the Rodong Sinmun in June 2006. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Ri Kyŏng-chan | 리경찬 | 李京贊 | (1935-11-15)15 November 1935 | | Kaesong | 35 | Joined the Korean Painters' Union after his return to the North. 70th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. Essays of his were printed in the Rodong Sinmun in February 2005 and December 2006. |
| Ri Kong-sun | 리공순 | | (1934-12-03)3 December 1934 | Seosan | Chungcheongnam-do | 33 | 70th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in November 2006. |
| Ri Tu-gyun | 리두균 | 李斗均 | (1926-04-02)2 April 1926 | Chungju | Chungcheongbuk-do | 31 | An essay of his was published in the Rodong Sinmun in October 2004. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Ri Se-gyun | 리세균 | | (1922-01-15)15 January 1922 | Jeonju | Jeollabuk-do | 30 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Ri Chae-ryong | 리재룡 | | (1945-10-03)3 October 1945 | Yangyang | Gangwon-do | 30 | First daughter Ri Chuk-bok (리축복) born (2002-07-24)24 July 2002, according to KCNA |
| Ri Jong | 리종 | | (1911-08-09)9 August 1911 | Yeongdong | Chungcheongbuk-do | 25 | Birth date stated as (1911-09-25)September 25, 1911 in 90th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in October 2006. |
| Ri Jong-hwan | 리종환 | | (1922-10-07)7 October 1922 30 April 2001(2001-04-30) (aged 78) | | Incheon | 43 | Obituary published by KCNA |
| Pak Mun-jae | 박문재 | | (1922-09-14)14 September 1922 | | Kaesong | 28 | Imprisoned in Daejeon; released in 1993. Still alive as of 2004, according to KCNA. |
| Pak Wan-gyu | 박완규 | | (1929-04-10)10 April 1929 | Cheongwon | Chungcheongbuk-do | 33 | An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in December 2006. |
| Pang Chae-sun | 방재순 | | (1917-02-25)25 February 1917 | Hoengseong | Gangwon-do | 38 | An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in November 2006. 90th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Sŏk Yong-hwa | 석용화 | | (1925-04-08)8 April 1925 | Yangsan | Gyeongsangnam-do | 20 | Married to Lee Chun-ja of South Korea; two daughters. Left them behind to cross over to North Korea. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Son Sŏng-mo | 손성모 | 孫聖模 | (1930-01-15)15 January 1930 | Buan | Jeollabuk-do | 19 | Released in June 2000. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in July 2006. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Song Sang-jun | 송상준 | | (1927-07-29)29 July 1927 | | Busan | 36 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Sin Kwang-su | 신광수 | 辛光洙 | (1929-06-27)27 June 1929 | Yangsan | Gyeongsangnam-do | 15 | Also spelled Shin Gwang-su. Born in Shizuoka, Japan according to some reports. Released in June 2000. Wanted in Japan for his alleged role in North Korean abductions of Japanese. |
| Sin Rin-su | 신린수 | | (1918-04-01)1 April 1918 | Cheongdo | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 30 | Worked in a coal mine in his youth. 90th birthday congratulations published in The Pyongyang Times. |
| Sin In-yŏng | 신인영 | | (1929-12-06)6 December 1929 | Buan | Jeollabuk-do | 32 | Also spelled Shin In-young. Served in the Korean People's Army during the Korean War; returned to the South as a spy and was arrested in 1967. Believed to have a wife, son, and two daughters in the North; his mother, Koh Bong-hee, continued to reside in the South. Imprisoned in Daejeon. Released in the March 1998 amnesty. Suffering from leukaemia. At the time of his release, he stated, "now I want to take care of my mother for the rest of her life". However, he bid farewell to her in 2000 and crossed over to North Korea with 62 other long-term prisoners, in a scene captured in Kim Dong-won's 2000 movie Repatriation. She died in 2002. |
| An Yong-gi | 안영기 | | (1929-06-19)19 June 1929 | Gumi | Gyeongsangbuk-do | 38 | Also spelled Ahn Young-gi. Prior to his arrest, designed the Okryu Restaurant in Pyongyang. Released in the February 1999 amnesty. Joined the Korean Painters' Union after his return to the North. |
| Yang Chŏng-ho | 양정호 | | (1931-04-03)3 April 1931 | Yangsan | Gyeongsangnam-do | 31 | Released in the February 1999 amnesty. Joined the Korean Painters' Union after moving to the North. An essay of his was published in the Rodong Sinmun in August 2004. |
| O Hyŏng-sik | 오형식 | | (1932-01-24)24 January 1932 3 September 2006(2006-09-03) (aged 74) | Siheung | Gyeonggi-do | 31 | An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in June 2006. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| U Ryong-gak | 우용각 | 禹龍覺 | (1929-11-29)29 November 1929 7 December 2012(2012-12-07) (aged 83) | Nyongbyon | North Pyongan | 42 | Also spelled Woo Yong-gak. Was captured in a North Korean commando raid in Southern waters in 1959. At the time of his release under Kim Dae-jung's amnesty in 1999, was believed to be the world's longest-serving political prisoner. |
| Yun Yong-gi | 윤용기 | | (1926-08-02)2 August 1926 13 June 2001(2001-06-13) (aged 74) | Ganghwa | Gyeonggi-do | 40 | Obituary published by KCNA |
| Yun Hŭi-bo | 윤희보 | | (1917-10-10)10 October 1917 | Gwangju | Gyeonggi-do | 25 | 90th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Im Pyŏng-ho | 임병호 | | (1916-09-01)1 September 1916 | Boryeong | Chungcheongnam-do | 32 | An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in December 2006. |
| Chang Pyŏng-rak | 장병락 | | (1934-07-25)25 July 1934 11 October 2009(2009-10-11) (aged 75) | Kowon | South Hamgyong | 38 | Also spelled Jang Byong-lak. Released in the February 1999 amnesty. Obituary published by KCNA. |
| Jang Ho | 장호 | | (1920-11-29)29 November 1920 | Mapo-gu | Seoul | 32 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. Gave a lecture to a visiting group of students from Korea University of Japan in October 2003. An essay of his entitled "Society and Morality" was published in the Rodong Sinmun in October 2005. 100th birthday congratulations published by Rodong Sinmun $_,$ Pyongyang Times and KCNA, received a birthday spread from Kim Jong-un. |
| Chŏn Chin | 전진 | | (1923-07-06)6 July 1923 | Gunsan | Jeollabuk-do | 38 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Chŏn Ch'ang-gi | 전창기 | | (1918-04-10)10 April 1918 | Buyeo | Chungcheongnam-do | 23 | Also spelled Jon Chang-gi. 90th birthday congratulations published in The Pyongyang Times. |
| Cho Ch'ang-son | 조창손 | | (1929-08-29)29 August 1929 | Ryongyon | South Hwanghae | 30 | In poor health. Has a wife and two sons in the North. |
| Ch'oi Sŏn-muk | 최선묵 | | (1928-07-01)1 July 1928 | Ganghwa | Gyeonggi-do | 38 | Released in the February 1999 amnesty. Joined the Korean Painters' Union after moving to the North. An essay of his was published in the Rodong Sinmun in March 2005. |
| Ch'oi Su-il | 최수일 | | (1939-05-25)25 May 1939 | Uiju | North Pyongan | 35 | |
| Ch'oi Ha-jong | 최하종 | | (1927-03-21)21 March 1927 | Kimchaek | North Hamgyong | 36 | Joined the Korean Painters' Union after his return to the North. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Han Paek-ryŏl | 한백렬 | | (1920-02-16)16 February 1920 13 May 2009(2009-05-13) (aged 89) | Gwangju | Gyeonggi-do | 23 | Obituary published by KCNA |
| Han Chang-ho | 한장호 | | (1923-05-01)1 May 1923 | Myongchon | North Hamgyong | 39 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Han Chong-ho | 한종호 | | (1918-01-31)31 January 1918 | Hamhung | South Hamgyong | 13 | Left behind a son, Han Young-su. His wife did not attend his farewell. 90th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. |
| Han Chun-ik | 한춘익 | | (1925-06-10)10 June 1925 | Hamhung | South Hamgyong | 29 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Ham Se-hwan | 함세환 | | (1932-12-12)12 December 1932 | Ongjin | South Hwanghae | 34 | Applied for repatriation in 1993 (at the time of Ri In-mo's repatriation) and again in 1996, but was denied both times. The KCNA reports that a daughter was born to him on (2003-03-19)19 March 2003. In December 2006, an essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun. |
| Hong Kyŏng-sŏn | 홍경선 | | (1925-05-21)21 May 1925 | Cheonan | Chungcheongnam-do | 33 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in December 2005. |
| Hong Myŏng-gi | 홍명기 | | (1929-04-05)5 April 1929 | Buyeo | Chungcheongnam-do | 38 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Hong Mun-gŏ | 홍문거 | | (1921-09-14)14 September 1921 | | Pyongyang | 37 | 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA |
| Hwang Yong-gap | 황용갑 | | (1924-05-28)28 May 1924 | Hadong | Gyeongsangnam-do | 35 | Released in 1989. Married a woman surnamed Kim, but did not tell her about his past as a communist agent; she only learned of it in late 1999. 80th birthday congratulations published by KCNA. An essay of his was printed in the Rodong Sinmun in 2006. |