In 2017, a South Korean-born Australian man, Chan Han Choi, became an international sensation when he was arrested for allegedly trying to broker deals with North Korea, breaking UN sanctions. What made his story even more shocking was that Choi was charged with helping North Korea develop weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). This was a serious charge, and it marked the first time anyone had been prosecuted under Australia’s Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, which had been put in place in 1995.
However, the WMD charges against him were later dropped, but not before Choi spent three years in prison. After his release, Choi filed for compensation from the Australian government, claiming his rights had been violated while in custody. He accused the authorities of subjecting him to torture, medical neglect, and harsh treatment while he was imprisoned.
Choi didn’t deny having connections to North Korea. He explained that he had once run a business that sold North Korean products before it became illegal. He also said he was acting on behalf of Moon Jae-in, the South Korean presidential candidate who later became president. Choi claimed that he had helped set up a secret communication channel between Moon and North Korea to help Moon win the presidential election in 2017. According to Choi, Moon wanted to protect South Korea’s interests without outside interference. But after Moon won, he feared that having someone with ties to North Korea involved in his campaign could harm his reputation and lead to political trouble. Choi believed Moon’s team made him a scapegoat to avoid backlash.
Choi was arrested in December 2017, several months after Moon became president. The South Korean government had asked Australia to arrest him. At first, the Australian Federal Police questioned whether they should honor the request, but eventually, they moved forward with it. Choi believes that the arrest was part of a bigger political plan to protect Moon from embarrassment, involving South Korea, Australia, and even the United States.
This wasn’t the first time Choi had crossed paths with South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS). In 2010, Choi said that the NIS had tried to recruit him to work as a spy. Choi declined their offer, but from that point on, he believed the NIS had been keeping an eye on him, considering him a person of interest.
When Choi was arrested in 2017, he was convinced it was all part of a political move to hide the truth. According to Choi, the Australian government was using him to put pressure on North Korea, while the South Korean government was trying to protect its image. Choi claimed that the Australian government didn’t have evidence to support the charges against him, yet still detained him for years. This, he said, turned him into an international news story.
Interestingly, none of the business deals Choi was accused of brokering with North Korea ever went through. One deal, which involved the purchase of coal and pig iron from North Korea in 2008, never resulted in any goods being shipped. Choi said the deal was called off for political reasons at the time. He even claimed that a company linked to the NIS was involved in this business transaction. Later, in 2022, the South Korean government used this failed deal as part of the case against him, Choi said.
Despite everything that happened, Choi insisted that he wanted peace between North and South Korea. He believes that South Korea’s handling of people with ties to North Korea is clumsy and that its government has been misleading the public about the true nature of its relationship with the North. Choi also pointed out that South Korea’s government, under pressure from the United States, often portrays North Korea as a threat to maintain a certain political narrative. He argued that this narrative serves to uphold American influence in the region and keeps tensions high on the Korean Peninsula.
Choi, now 66, is determined to clear his name and seek justice. He has asked the Australian government to respond to his claims, but so far, they have not. Choi believes that if the government admits wrongdoing, it would force them to acknowledge the errors in his case. But he’s not giving up—he plans to take his fight to the United States courts and even the United Nations. His story is one of political intrigue, betrayal, and the search for justice in the face of powerful governments and international tensions.
