16 Facts About Lim Su-kyung

Lim Su-kyung is a South Korean activist and politician.

Lim Su-kyung is best known for attending the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students, held in North Korea and praising President of North Korea Kim Il Sung in 1989, without first obtaining travel permission from the South Korean government.

Lim Su-kyung attended the festival representing the student organization Jeondaehyop, now known as Hanchongryun.

In 1989, Lim famously visited North Korea to attend the 13th World Festival of Youth and Students as the one-person delegation of the League of South Korean University Students.

Lim Su-kyung was not a student leader but more of a "messenger".

Lim Su-kyung traveled for 10 days to reach the North via Japan and Germany.

Lim Su-kyung's stay there lasted 45 days and culminated in meeting President Kim Il Sung.

Lim Su-kyung crossed the Korean Demilitarized Zone back into South Korea on 15 August 1989.

Lim Su-kyung was the first civilian from either of the two Koreas to openly do so since the end of the Korean War.

Lim Su-kyung was arrested on charges of violating the National Security Act.

Lim Su-kyung was initially sentenced to prison for 12 years, which was later commuted to five.

Lim Su-kyung ended up serving only three years and was released under a special amnesty.

Lim Su-kyung was pardoned in 1999 by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung.

Lim Su-kyung claims that her attendance at the festival was a purely selfless act.

Lim Su-kyung's legacy took two separate trajectories in South Korea, where her reputation was tarnished as she was seen to have embarrassed her country's authorities, and in the North, where she is considered a hero.

Lim Su-kyung was made the subject of the documentary Hail Lim Su-kyung, the Flower of Unification.