Q and A: On the Numbers of Fines and People Arrested and/orJailed

[아름드리 나무]

Q and A: Answered by Save Jeju Now on the date of March 16, 2013

Q 1) How many Gangjeong villagers have already been arrested, and how many have served prison sentences so far(not the number for all the activists, but just the villagers).

A: 

The total number of the people who have been imprisoned is 22. But all were released by probation or bail. Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo has been the only person who has gotten an actual prison sentence. He was directly arrested from the court with an actual prison sentence of 18 months in his appeal court on Feb. 1.

The number of the native villagers who have been imprisoned is four: Mayor Kang Dong-Kyun (From Aug. 25 to Nov. 23, 2011, charged for obstruction of business, released on probation), Mr. Kim Jong-Hwan, community cook (same with mayor Kang ), Mr. Go Gwon-Il, Chairman of the Villagers’ Committee to Stop the Naval Base (July 15 to Aug. 9, 2011, charged on obstruction of business, released on bail ), and Mr. Yoon Choong ( Sept. 11 to Oct. 23, 2012, charged on damage on property, released on bail ).

I use the word, ‘native.’ Since many have activists have become the villagers as they moved their addresses to the village. 

Q 2) What is the amount of fines that Gangjeong villagers already had to pay?

A: 

(* In the below, $1 USD is counted as 1,000 KRW. For reference, as of March 16, 2913, 1USD is 1110.64 KRW. I just simplified the currency calculation for easier understanding.)

Since the start of the struggle in 2007 until February of 2013, the total amount of fines for anti-base protest is approximately $450,000 USD in addition to damage compensation fee of approx. $ 280,000~290,000 USD. 

According to chairman Go, regarding the fines of $450,000 USD, the Village Association has paid about $200,000 USD but still remains approx. $250,000 USD. 

After the result of the presidential election on Dec. 19, 2012, the fines against villagers and activists have been soaring. 

Many people have more than 2 trial cases concurrently and the average fines against activists have been about $3,000-4,000 USD. Some people with approx. $8,000-9,000 USD. 

On January 31st alone, the combined total of fines decided in the 1st court, against 18 villagers and activists was approx. $30,000 USD.

Most people have appealed to the higher courts and the trials in the higher courts begin around mid-March, this year. 

( *Regarding the amount of the ‘damage compensation fee’, there should be a correction in an article titled, ‘Severe Judicial Oppression Fought with Healing Hands’ in the 3rd page of the Gangjeong Village Feb. Newsletter, 2013. Apology for my mistake. It is NOT approx. $30,000 USD BUT approx. $ 280,000 USD (about 280,000,000~ 290,000,000 KRW when 1 USD is calculated as 1,000 KRW.

Chairman Go says the damage compensation fee was demanded two years ago by Jung Jin-Do, director of the U-Chang Maritime Company (우창해사, http://xn--vf4b13i27ev3k.kr/ ), a sub-contract company of Samsung and Daelim, the main construction companies for the Jeju naval base project, and the 1st court trial is still in process. Jung has accused the Village Association for the charge of obstruction of construction.)

Q 3) What is the total amount of the fines for all the activists? 

A:

It needs detailed research which I should consult a person in charge. It will take a time to reply. Anyway, the total fines have been $450,000 USD as replied in No. 2. 

It is a mix of fines against the villagers and activists all together. 

Q 4) What is the total number of people arrested and charged? The latest number I have is 589 arrested and 493 charged, but this is from December.

A:

As of Feb. 2013, a total of around 700 arrests have been made with 500 indictments and 22 people imprisoned.

Q 5) How many people are currently in jail? 

A:

Currently the only prisoner in jail is Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo. He was directly arrested from the court on Feb. 1, 2013 and officially started prison fast from Feb. 2. But his actual fast started in the evening of Feb. 1, as soon as he was jailed. He fasts with the demand of cancellation on the Government’s fraud simulation show and revocation on the Jeju naval base project. 

Otherwise, it became to be known on March 4 that Ishle Yi Park, a Korean living in Hawai’I hit her 5th day solidarity fast for yang Yoon-Mo and Jeju island people. Ishle Yi park is a poet, activist and a nursing mother who greatly risks her health to say that she plans on fasting‘ as long as Prof. Yang is fasting.’ 

We so thank her but hope that Prof. Yang and she stops their fasts as we so concern about their health. The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base has officially requested Prof. Yang to stop fast on March 15 when he hit his 43rd day fast, for the concern of his health. 

http://savejejunow.org/update-on-yang-yoon-mo-people-appeal-prof-yang-to-stop-fast-concerning-his-health/