A Chinese human rights activist fled for his life on a jet ski and ended up in South Korea . . . but was arrested anyway.
Kwon Pyong has long been a critic of President Xi Jinping.
Although his identity has not been independently verified, it is thought the bloke fled from China to South Korea after China's continued use of blocking activists from leaving the country had increased.
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According to South Korea's coast guard, he turned up wearing a life jacket and a helmet, and had five barrels of fuel inside his jet ski which could be traced by to Shangdong in China.
A spokesman said: “He refilled the petrol on the ride and dumped the empty barrels into the sea.”
The 35-year-old was arrested for trying to “smuggle himself” into the country, and is not thought to be held on suspicion of being a spy like so many others have.
He is known in China for being arrested in October 2016 for “subverting state power” and “insulting state authority and the socialist system” because of social media posts criticising the leadership.
He was thrown in jail for 18 months.
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Confirming the man's identity, Lee Dae-seon, from non-profit organisation Dialogue China, told the AFP news agency: “While Mr Kwon's means of entry into South Korea in violation of the law was wrong, surveillance of the Chinese authorities and political persecution of Kwon since 2016 are behind his life-risking crossing into South Korea.
“He is now weighing whether to apply for refugee status in South Korea or choose a third country.”
It is not known whether or not he will be granted asylum in South Korea, as only a few people are given that allowance per year.
No comment has been made by Chinese officials in either Beijing or South Korea.
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