Six researchers belonging to the Seoul Social Science Institute were arrested under the National Security Law on 27 June 1991. They have reportedly been accused of benefitting North Korea through the publication and dissemination of material advocating a socialist revolution. Those detained include: Shin Hyun-joon, Kwon Hyun-jong, Son Ju-myong and Lee Chang-hui, graduate students of Seoul University. The names of the remaining two are not known. The Seoul Social Science Institute is reported to view the arrests as a serious encroachment on academic freedom in South Korea. Several lawyers have reportedly commented that the arrests were carried out without taking into account the spirit of recent amendments to the National Security Law (in May 1991).
