Mr Woo Yong-Gak, reputed to be the world's longest-serving political prisoner, was freed yesterday after 41 years in a South Korean jail and said he wants to return to communist North Korea. The 71-year-old spy, who has been in solitary confinement since the end of the Korean War, was among 17 long-term political detainees released under an amnesty benefiting nearly 9,000 people, including 1,508 prisoners, to mark President Kim DaeJung's first anniversary in office.
Wearing black-rimmed spectacles and a black padded jacket, the man described by Amnesty International as the world's veteran prisoner of conscience greeted a cheering crowd with a smile.
"I'm very happy to see the light of the wide world after over 40 years in prison," he said as he left prison in Taejon, about 160 km south of Seoul.
Over 100 supporters, activists and journalists braved fog and cold weather to see his release. He appeared to remain true to his pro-North Korean convictions, saying four decades behind bars and severe illness had not changed him.
Mr Woo conceded that the decision over whether he and his comrades could go back to the North had to be hammered out between Seoul and Pyongyang, still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean conflict.
President Kim said on Wednesday he would agree to send the 17, all convicted of espionage for the North, back provided North Korea released around 300 South Korean prisoners of war and abductees.
Mr Kim's one-year-old government announced the pardon on Monday, agreeing to waive a requirement that the 17 long-term political prisoners sign an oath of obedience to South Korea's laws.
Yesterday morning, the 1,508 prisoners were freed from 13 prisons in four cities under the amnesty which benefits a total of 8,812 people, including thousands who had their rights restored.
But at least 270 other political prisoners were not released, angering human rights watchdogs, leftwing students and workers' groups.