Zhang Wen Shi
Additional Name(s): Jang Moon Seok
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: North Korea
Ethnic Group: Korean
Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 15 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: November//2014
Date of Release: November/5/2025
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Humanitarian Work & Charitable Activities Proselytizing Activities
Nature of Charges: Defamation Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Zhang Wen Shi
Extra Bio Info:
Jang Moon Seok was imprisoned for his religious activity.
In November 2014, Seok, a deacon, was abducted and transferred from China to a prison in North Korea for his evangelism, ministry activities, and humanitarian work benefiting North Korean defectors to China. North Korean authorities sentenced Seok to 15 years' imprisonment for "defaming the regime, attempt to incite subversion of state power, providing aid and gospel to North Koreans."
On November 5, 2025, Zhang Wen Shi was released from prison.
Publicly Available Information:
- USCIRF RPOC Project
- USCIRF Commissioners Abraham Cooper and Frederick Davie, Tweet, September 22, 2023
- USCIRF Commissioner Frank Wolf, Tweet, March 24, 2023
- USCIRF Annual Report 2022: North Korea
- USCIRF Commissioner James Carr, Tweet, November 10, 2021
- USCIRF Annual Report 2021: North Korea
- USCIRF Event: FoRB Victims List and Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project Update, February 25, 2021
- USCIRF Press Release: USCIRF Commissioner James Carr Adopts Deacon Zhang Wen Shi of North Korea and Pastor A Dao of Vietnam through the Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project, May 29, 2020
- "VOM Launches Campaign for Korean Chinese Christian Kidnapped by North Korea" International Christian Concern (ICC)
- "Zhang Wen Shi" The Voice of the Martyrs