Lee Seok-ki sabotage plot[edit]
Main article: 2013 South Korean sabotage plot
On 5 September 2013, South Korea’s spy agency accused UPP lawmaker Lee Seok-ki of plotting a pro-North Korean rebellion. The case triggered a political and media firestorm in a nation where even praising the North can be considered a crime. [12] He allegedly led a May 2013 meeting, comprised partly of UPP members, in which reference was made to the prospect of attacking South Korean infrastructure in the event that recently heightened tensions between the Koreas led to war.
South Korean prosecutors subsequently indicted Lee on charges of plotting a pro-North Korea rebellion to overthrow the government, saying his plan posed a “grave” national security threat.[13] However, many people, including UPP lawmakers, say that while the meeting in question did take place, they had no intention of destroying Korean infrastructure.
On 17 February 2014, Lee was sentenced by a district court to 12 years in prison. [14] [15]