Song's German Mentor Appeals for Professor's Release
by Kim Jae-eun (2ruth@chosun.com)

Jürgen Habermas, the German philosopher and mentor to
Korean-born German scholar Song Du-yul, sent a written appeal
to the chief justice in charge of the former dissident’s
case.

Habermas's appeal was released on the homepage of an internet
group for people seeking Song's release and the protection of
his freedom of thought. The philosopher expressed surprise and
an inability to understand what he's observed so far in Song's
arrest and trial, and expressed further concern over the
hearings underway now. He also said that from what he knew of
Song's case, it fell short of the standards employed by
law-governed nations.

While calling for an impartial decision, he expressed hope
that the chief justice would not allow Song, a German citizen,
to become a casualty of Korea’s domestic political
squabbling. He also warned that if the court once more applied
to Song’s case the National Security Law, which the
philosopher claimed is incompatible with the fundamental
principles of constitutional governance, and could harm
Korea’s reputation in the court of world opinion.

At the end of his petition, Habermas begged the court’s
permission to send a copy of his letter to his friend, Joschka
Fischer, who as German Foreign Minister has the final say on
offering diplomatic assistance to German citizens abroad.

The Internet group that released Habermas’s appeal submitted
the letter to the justices handling the third round of public
hearings into Song’s case, which began Tuesday in Seoul
District Court.