Daughters of Former Politician Arrested During Protest Against Supreme Court Chief Justice

Members of the Korean University Student Progressive Union (대진연) staged a surprise protest at the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on May 9, demanding the resignation of Chief Justice 조희대. Among the four members arrested for attempting to unlawfully enter the building were two sisters, 윤모씨, daughters of 황선, a former spokesperson for the Democratic Labor Party.

The protest was in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn a previous ruling regarding Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party of Korea, for violating election laws. 대진연 is known for its pro-North Korea and anti-U.S. stance, having previously engaged in activities such as praising North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and illegally entering the U.S. Embassy in South Korea.

After their arrest, the police sought warrants for the sisters, but the Seoul Central District Court denied the requests on May 12, citing low risks of flight and evidence tampering.

Their mother, 황선, gained notoriety in 2005 when she traveled to North Korea to attend the Arirang Festival while pregnant and gave birth in Pyongyang, sparking controversy over 'Pyongyang birth tourism.' In an interview at the time, she expressed joy that her child's birthplace was legally recognized as Pyongyang, viewing it as a symbol of improved inter-Korean relations.

황선 has continued her pro-North Korea activities, including hosting talk concerts that glorify the North Korean regime. In 2012, she ran for a parliamentary seat as a proportional representative for the Unified Progressive Party but was unsuccessful.

This is not the first time the 윤 sisters have faced legal scrutiny. The elder sister is currently undergoing trial for attempting to breach the Yongsan Presidential Office in January 2022 while demanding the resignation of former President 윤석열. The younger sister also participated in a protest in March 2022, where she and other 대진연 members stormed the headquarters of the People Power Party to call for the resignation of lawmaker 성일종.

Following the rejection of their arrest warrants, the 윤 sisters expressed their outrage through 대진연's YouTube channel, condemning Chief Justice 조희대 and labeling the Supreme Court's actions as an attack on the people's right to choose, stating, "The actions of 조희대 and the insurrectionist forces are infuriating."