On December 4, 2025, the South Korean presidential office made a startling confirmation: six South Korean citizens have been detained by North Korea for many years, with their fates shrouded in secrecy and diplomatic tension. The announcement, reported widely by outlets such as AFP and Korea Joongang Daily, comes at a time when inter-Korean relations are fraught, and efforts to revive dialogue have repeatedly stalled.
The confirmation arrived just one day after a press conference that left the South Korean public and political observers in shock. On December 3, during a high-profile briefing at the Blue House, President Lee Jae Myung was asked by international reporters about ongoing efforts to secure the release of South Koreans held in the North. The president’s response was candid—perhaps too candid for some: “This is the first time I have heard about this issue,” Lee said, before turning to National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac for clarification.
Wi responded by acknowledging that there were indeed cases where South Korean citizens had entered North Korea and not returned, or had been detained under circumstances that were never publicly disclosed. “We need to determine the exact timeline,” he added, highlighting the lack of detailed information about those involved. President Lee himself admitted, “It seems that the incident happened quite some time ago, so we lack detailed information about the individuals concerned.” He assured the press, “We will review the situation and assess it.”
On December 4, the presidential office provided more specifics. According to the official statement, North Korea has detained six South Korean citizens: three Christian missionaries and three defectors from North Korea who had become South Korean nationals. These detentions occurred between 2013 and 2016, and the charges included espionage—a crime that, in North Korea, can carry the gravest of penalties, including the death sentence. Four of the detainees were named by North Korean authorities, but the identities of the others remain undisclosed.
The South Korean government, in its statement, underscored the difficulties in addressing the issue. The breakdown of inter-Korean communication channels has made it exceptionally hard to assist the detained citizens or even verify their well-being. “The government will strive to resolve this issue by making efforts to promptly resume inter-Korean dialogue,” the presidential office declared, signaling a renewed commitment to diplomacy despite years of frustration.
The revelation of the president’s apparent lack of awareness quickly ignited debate within South Korea. Conservative daily Chosun Ilbo described Lee as “unaware,” calling his response a “symbolic image” of the government’s insufficient attention to the plight of its detained citizens. The awkward press conference moment, where Lee had to seek help from his national security advisor, became a focal point in domestic media coverage, raising questions about both the flow of information within the administration and the government’s prioritization of humanitarian issues in its dealings with the North.
National Security Advisor Wi Sung-lac’s comments added further nuance. He explained that there were indeed “cases where people entered North Korea and did not return, or were detained in situations not publicly disclosed.” The lack of precise information, he suggested, was due to the passage of time and the opaque nature of North Korean legal proceedings. The government’s challenge, then, is not only diplomatic but also informational: tracking the fates of citizens in one of the world’s most secretive states is no small feat.
For families of the detainees, the news was both a confirmation of long-held fears and a reminder of the painful limbo in which they have lived for years. The South Korean government’s statement noted that the last time Seoul raised the issue with Pyongyang was in 2018. At that time, North Korean authorities responded that “the relevant agencies are carefully reviewing the matter,” but no further comment or action has followed since then. The silence from the North has only deepened the sense of helplessness and frustration felt by those hoping for their loved ones’ return.
The diplomatic context is crucial. Since taking office in June 2025, President Lee Jae Myung has advocated for unconditional dialogue with North Korea—a sharp contrast to the hardline stance of his predecessor. However, North Korea has yet to respond to Seoul’s overtures, maintaining a stony silence even as tensions simmer on the peninsula. The issue of detained citizens, while deeply personal for the families involved, has also become a flashpoint in the broader debate over how South Korea should engage with its unpredictable neighbor.
Meanwhile, the South Korean Ministry of Unification, which oversees inter-Korean relations, has reiterated its commitment to resolving the detainee issue. The ministry confirmed that the last official discussion of the matter with North Korea occurred in 2018, echoing the presidential office’s timeline. Since then, there has been no progress. The ministry’s spokesperson emphasized, “The pain caused by the division is prolonged by the breakdown of inter-Korean dialogue, and supporting detained citizens has become even more difficult.”
The plight of the detainees is not unique. Over the years, citizens of other countries—including the United States and Japan—have been held by North Korea, sometimes released after high-profile negotiations. In the current case, South Korean reporters pointed out that while American and Japanese detainees have been freed, more than ten South Korean citizens remain in North Korean custody, with little hope of swift resolution.
For now, the South Korean government’s official line is one of cautious determination. “The government will strive to resolve this issue by making efforts to promptly resume inter-Korean dialogue,” the presidential office reiterated. Yet with Pyongyang silent and diplomatic channels frozen, the road ahead looks uncertain at best.
The confirmation of the detentions has sparked renewed calls within South Korea for greater transparency and urgency in addressing the fate of its citizens abroad. As the government pledges new efforts, the families of those detained can only hope that this latest revelation marks the beginning of a more focused and effective campaign to bring their loved ones home.
In a region where history, politics, and personal tragedy are often tightly intertwined, the fate of these six South Koreans now stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of unresolved conflict—and the pressing need for dialogue, even when the odds seem long.
