A South Korean citizen was detained in Russia earlier this year on suspicion of espionage, Russia’s TASS news agency reported on Mar. 11. “Law enforcement officials apprehended a South Korean citizen with the surname Baek during an espionage investigation”, a Russian law enforcement official told the news agency, adding that Baek was detained in Vladivostok in Russia’s far east and transferred to Moscow late last month for investigation. The news agency disclosed that a South Korean citizen named Baek Won-soon was arrested on suspicion of espionage, adding it is the first time that a South Korean has been detained on espionage charges in Russia.
According to the South Korean Embassy in Russia, Baek was a missionary who was working in Vladivostok to provide assistance to North Korean loggers. He was arrested by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in January after crossing the border from China with his spouse. The South Korean Embassy in Russia was notified about the arrest last month. Baek’s spouse has since been released and returned home later.
Baek is now reportedly being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo prison. “Baek’s detention period will be extended to June 15,” the Russian court said. In 2022, Russia declared South Korea as an unfriendly country, due to Korea’s participation in Western sanctions against Russia. South Korean nationals can be imprisoned for up to 20 years, if found guilty of espionage in Russia.
