Chinese Smuggler Who Led North Koreans to Freedom Wins Asylum Bid

Tu Airong helped about 500 North Koreans find their way to the South

Jonathan Cheng and

Dasl Yoon

Dec. 21, 2018 7:16 a.m. ET

SEOUL—South Korea granted asylum to a Chinese citizen who helped North Koreans escape to the South, a milestone for a country that has welcomed more than 30,000 people from the North but has been less accepting of refugees from other countries.

On Friday, immigration authorities on South Korea’s Jeju island granted refugee status to Tu Airong, a 55-year-old former smuggler from China. He is the first person to gain asylum in South Korea after helping North Koreans escape to the South.

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