Kim Young-hwan, a South Korean activist for North Korean human rights, has claimed he was severely tortured in a variety of ways, including electric shocks, during his 114-day detention in China.
Kim was arrested in Dalian on March 29 on charges of “endangering China’s national security” and was deported to South Korea on July 20. Yet he denied the charges, saying he did not commit any hostile act against China.
In a news conference on Wednesday, Kim claimed he suffered physical abuse and sleep deprivation during his detention. But he refused to elaborate on the details, except saying that Chinese officials told him to keep silent about having been tortured.
The following day, however, Kim told his confidants more about the torture he suffered. According to them, he underwent all kinds of torture imaginable, all of it severe. One Chinese security official even tortured him with a high-voltage electrical prod.
The activist was also quoted as saying that Chinese security officials played loud music inside the interrogation room to block his screams from being heard outside.
Kim reportedly said he decided to disclose the torture he suffered to prevent other South Korean activists working for North Korean human rights from undergoing the same ill treatment by Chinese authorities.
Now that Kim has disclosed the details of the torture he allegedly underwent, the Seoul government needs to press China to verify his claims.
Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan said the government would demand that China conduct a thorough and strict investigation into Kim’s claims. The ministry should act decisively toward China as it is suspected of having attempted to play down the torture case.
If Kim’s claims turn out to be true, the government should demand that China apologize for the incident and punish officials involved in the inhumane treatment of the Korean activist.
Seoul should also demand that Beijing take concrete steps to ensure that such outrageous treatment of South Koreans is not repeated in the future.
Kim’s case illustrates that China’s human rights standard is still not up to par. As a country aspiring to become a superpower, China needs to hold its treatment of foreigners up to a higher standard.
Every time South Korea’s maritime police apprehended Chinese fishermen operating illegally in the Korean waters, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry has never failed to call on Seoul to enforce laws “in a civilized way” and to protect the arrested fishermen’s legitimate rights.
Beijing should enforce laws in a civilized way in treating South Koreans before asking Seoul to do so toward Chinese fishermen. It should remember the dictum ― “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
