7,250 South Korean Dissidents Reported Detained in 1986
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SEOUL, South Korea — The number of people detained for anti-government activities or “security-related” incidents last year totaled 7,250, according to official figures released Thursday.
The tally from police and prosecutors showed formal charges were brought against 4,610 of the detainees, 1,917 were sent to summary courts and 723 were released after warnings. Most were identified as students or former student activists.
The government conducted widespread investigations and a crackdown last year after alleging leftist influence among dissidents.
Human rights groups say about 2,000 people now face trial or are in prison on charges related to political incidents. Officials, however, insist that there are no political prisoners or prisoners of conscience in South Korea, and that all detentions are for violations of the law.
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