The Seoul Central District Court sentenced a 43-year-old South Korean man to five years in prison for spying for North Korea on September 5, 2024. ^[1] The Seoul Central District Court sentenced a 43-year-old male defendant to five years in prison and a five-year ban on holding public office for espionage. ^[2] Officials stated the man received an order from a North Korean agent via the messaging app Telegram in May-June of 2021 to collect information about anti-Pyongyang defectors from North Korea and their activities. ^[3] The man was instructed by the agent to collect personal information of seven active-duty military officers, including their units and resident registration numbers, and attempt to recruit them for espionage. ^[4] The Seoul Central District Court convicted the man for violating the National Security Act, saying information about anti-Pyongyang North Korean defectors warrants protection because it can be used to harm them or their families. ^[5] Following a directive from the North Korean operative in July 2021, the defendant hired a private detective to track down seven active-duty officers, including their names, units, and resident registration numbers. ^[6] The court ruled that information regarding anti-regime defectors constitutes state secrets because disclosure could lead to their tracking, harm, or retaliation against their families in North Korea. ^[7] The defendant received orders via Telegram to approach North Korean defectors with anti-regime sentiments and gather their personal details and activity records. ^[8]