Police raid office of People’s Democratic Party over alleged national security law violations

Police on Friday raided the headquarters of the far-left People's Democracy Party and homes of its members as part of an investigation into alleged violations of the National Security Act. Investigators from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency searched the office of the People's Democracy Party in Seoul's Jongno district and the homes of its party members early Friday, authorities said. The police are looking into allegations that Lee Sang-hoon, the head of the party, and other party officials have violated the National Security Act, which prohibits South Koreans from supporting or praising North Korea. The People's Democracy Party, launched in 2016, has been organizing protests demanding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea in front of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul for nearly 3,000 days. It has recently called for a halt to the annual South Korea-U.S. military exercise, dubbed the Ulchi Freedom Shield. Two leaders of Korea Solidarity, which is known as the predecessor of the People's Democracy Pa rty, both received prison sentences in the district and appeals courts over violations of the National Security Act. Source: Yonhap News Agency