A former North Korean resident has initiated legal proceedings in a South Korean court against North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-un, claiming she experienced torture and sexual abuse in the nation’s detention centers. Choi Min-kyung, 53, is pursuing damages of 50m won (approximately US$37,000) from the North Korean state. Alongside her lawsuit, Choi has filed a criminal report accusing Kim and other five officials of crimes against humanity.
This marks the first instance where a North Korean defector has sought legal recourse in South Korea for human rights abuses committed by the North Korean regime. Choi’s legal team includes Lee Young-hyun, himself a North Korean defector who has become the first such individual to qualify as a lawyer in South Korea.
The lawsuit details various alleged abuses, including forced cavity searches without gloves, severe physical beatings, and prolonged torture through stress positions. Choi’s account reflects the systematic human rights violations documented in the 2014 UN commission of inquiry report on North Korea.
Despite the lack of effective mechanisms to enforce any potential court victories and the inherent complexity of such legal actions, this case is poised to become a precedent for future lawsuits and promote broader efforts to hold the North Korean government accountable for its reported human rights abuses.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/11/north-korea-defector-to-sue-kim-jong-un
