Russia detains South Korean, Baek Won-soon, accuses him of espionage in ‘top secret’ case, state media

The man identified by Tass news agency as Baek Won-soon is suspected of passing on information ‘constituting state secrets to foreign intelligence services’

South Korean media described Baek as a missionary who supported North Korean labourers. It’s the first time a South Korean has been arrested for espionage in Russia

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The Lefortovo prison in the Russian capital of Moscow. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:19am, 12 Mar 2024Updated: 2:28pm, 12 Mar 2024

A South Korean citizen arrested in Russia earlier this year on suspicion of spying is to remain in custody until mid-June, Russia’s state news agency Tass said on Monday.

The news agency said it is the first time that a South Korean has been arrested for espionage in Russia.

Tass said the man, identified by the agency as Baek Won-soon, was detained “at the start of the year” in the far eastern city of Vladivostok and was taken to Moscow at the end of February. He is being held in Lefortovo Prison, where a court on Monday ordered his detention extended until June 15, Tass said.

The man, named as Baek Won-soon, was transferred from Vladivostok to Moscow and is accused of handing over classified information to foreign intelligence agencies, Russian state news agency Tass reported.

South Korean media reports on Tuesday said that Baek was a missionary who supported North Korean labourers based in Russia’s Far East.