Chinese Man Washes Up in South Korea After Crossing Yellow Sea on Water Scooter
SEOUL — A Chinese man who washed up on South Korea’s west coast last week after crossing the Yellow Sea on a water scooter is believed to be a political dissident who was previously imprisoned in China, according to a South Korean human rights activist.
The man, identified as Kwon Pyong, a 35-year-old ethnic Korean who goes by the name Quan Ping in Mandarin, arrived in the port city of Incheon last week. Lee Daeseon, a Korea-based human rights activist, confirmed Kwon’s identity after visiting him at a coast guard facility. Kwon had traveled over 300 kilometers (200 miles) on a personal watercraft from China’s Shandong province to reach South Korea, where some of his relatives live.
Kwon, who is seeking political asylum outside of China, preferably in the United States, Britain, or Canada, is said to be in good health and spirits. He previously studied as a college student in Iowa.
The Korean coast guard reported that an individual on a 1,800-cc red water scooter, carrying more than 200 liters (50 gallons) of fuel, had illegally crossed the border and was detained. The coast guard did not disclose Kwon’s name or provide further comments due to privacy concerns.
The details provided by the coast guard suggest that Kwon had thoroughly prepared for the trip, with safety measures such as a life jacket, helmet, binoculars, and a compass. He had also disposed of empty fuel canisters into the sea after refueling along the way.
In 2017, Kwon was imprisoned in China for 18 months after posting speeches, images, and videos critical of the Chinese government on social media. A Chinese court accused Kwon of “inciting subversion of state power” and insulting the “state authority and the socialist system.” Since his release from prison, Kwon has been subject to an exit ban preventing him from legally leaving China. China has increasingly used exit bans under President Xi Jinping to monitor and silence critics.
The Chinese Embassy in Seoul declined to comment on the case, stating that it has no relevant information.
After returning from Iowa, Kwon worked for a family business in Yanbian, a trade hub on the China-North Korea border. On social media platforms banned in China, he expressed criticism of the government’s censorship and political controls and voiced support for dissidents and protests. However, all of his Facebook and Twitter posts have been deleted.
Kwon’s journey highlights the lengths some individuals go to seek political asylum and escape repressive regimes.