Poet acquitted of charges of infringing national security

Kim Ji-ha, 72, a renowned poet, has been acquitted after 39 years of charges of violating the National Security Act and the presidential emergency rule, and inciting rebellion.

Kim was convicted for publishing a poem “Ojeok” or “Five Enemies,” which criticized political and financial elites during the iron-fisted rule of late President Park Chung-hee, President-elect Park Geun-hye’s father, and participating in a students’ democracy movement in 1974.

He received the death penalty, but was freed after a 10-month imprisonment with the help of amnesty efforts by international civic groups.

He was put in jail again due to different writings and served six more years.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)