South Korean court upholds passport invalidation for Gaza activist

A South Korean court has ruled against activist Kim Ah-hyeon, known by the pseudonym Haecho, in her lawsuit to overturn a Ministry of Foreign Affairs order to return her passport. Kim’s passport was invalidated after she attempted to enter the Gaza Strip, a designated travel-ban zone, as part of a humanitarian aid mission. During her previous attempt in October last year, her vessel was seized by Israeli forces, and she was briefly detained.

The Seoul Administrative Court ruled that the government’s action was lawful, stating that while Kim’s humanitarian convictions and freedom of movement deserve respect, the state has a constitutional obligation to protect the lives and physical safety of its citizens. The court found that because the risk to her life in the Gaza Strip was foreseeable and significant due to ongoing conflict, the Ministry’s emergency measures did not constitute an abuse of discretion.

Kim argued that the Ministry bypassed proper notification procedures and infringed upon her fundamental rights. The Ministry maintained that its actions were not a judgment of her motives but a necessary measure to ensure her safety in a high-risk zone. The Ministry has indicated it will only consider reissuing her passport if she promises not to attempt further visits to the Gaza Strip.