A woman named Choy Min Kyung, who fled North Korea and underwent severe trials, has filed a criminal case against the country's leader Kim Chen In at a court in Seoul. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This event has been met with great attention from human rights defenders and the international community. According to reports, Choy Min Kyung fled to China in 1997 but was forcibly returned to North Korea in 2008.
Upon her return, she was arrested and faced sexual violence, torture, and humiliation in prison. This process has seriously harmed her mental state, and she is currently on permanent medication.
In 2012, Choy Min Kyung managed to flee from the North again and move to South Korea. On July 11, 2025, she filed civil and criminal charges against North Korean leader Kim Chen In and four high-ranking officials in a Seoul court.
The organization "Database Center for North Korean Human Rights" is assisting the woman. They plan to bring this case to the UN and the International Criminal Court as well.
In her appeal, Choy Min Kyung states that she wants her actions to be an important step towards restoring human dignity and freedom. She believes it is her duty to hold Kim Chen In and his government accountable so that others do not suffer from the regime's brutality.
In recent years, South Korean courts have been issuing symbolic rulings against the North Korean leadership. For example, in 2023, a Seoul court ruled to collect $36,000 from North Korean citizens, and in 2024, it ordered the payment of 100 million won to refugees forcibly returned from Japan.
At the same time, Pyongyang has not responded to these claims and has not recognized the rulings. However, this situation is considered an important precedent for international human rights defenders.
Choy Min Kyung's appeal is viewed not only as her personal legal struggle but also as a strong claim against human rights violations in North Korea. Her courage gives hope and strength to other victims.
