Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr. Hyun Sook Foley and CEO Pastor Eric Foley delivered a 5,000+ signature petition to the Russian Embassy in Seoul last week calling for the immediate release of Missionary Park Tae Yeon. The Foleys addressed the media across the street from the Embassy before entering the Embassy.
“Missionary Park faithfully shared the love of Jesus with Russian children for 33 years,” says Pastor Foley. “She continues to be in good spirits in detention and says she reads her Bible daily. But she says, ‘I just want to go home.’ We are thankful for the 5,000 people around the world who signed the petition calling for Russia to just let Missionary Park go home.”
Park Tae Yeon is a Korean missionary who was arrested in Khabarovsk, Russia January 15, one week before she was scheduled to return home to Korea to retire at age 70. The missionary continues to be held at an immigration detention center in Khabarovsk. She faces a maximum of 17 years in prison on a total of three immigration-related charges. The Foleys said Missionary Park’s initial court hearing on these charges is now likely to occur in May.
Authorities have also seized Missionary Park’s house in Russia and fined the missionary for overstaying her visa, despite the overstay being due to her detainment by Russian authorities. Pastor Foley calls these actions “serious violations of the law that demand remedy by the court and the action of Christians around the world on Missionary Park’s behalf.” Pastor Foley said a court hearing on these matters should happen this month.
On February 4 Voice of the Martyrs Korea posted a petition online calling for Missionary Park’s immediate release. More than 4,000 people in Korea added their names to the petition, along with more than 1,000 people from Russia, Ukraine, the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Africa, Finland, Zimbabwe, Poland, Hungary, Indonesia, Romania, Nigeria, Scotland, Hong Kong, and the Philippines.
The petition reads as follows:
PETITION FOR URGENT RELEASE AND REPATRIATION
TO: His Excellency Georgy Zinoviev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Korea
43 Seosomun-ro 11-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
CC: The South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
DATE: February 4, 2026
SUBJECT: Urgent Petition for the Release of Ms. Park Tae-yeon
We, the undersigned, call upon the Government of the Russian Federation to immediately and unconditionally release Ms. Park Tae-yeon, a citizen of the Republic of Korea currently detained in Khabarovsk, Russia.
1. Personal Details of the Detainee
- Name: Park Tae-yeon
- Age: 69
- Nationality: Republic of Korea
- Case/Detention Number: 1260208004800001
- Date of Detention: January 15, 2026
- Place of Detention: Khaborovsk, Russia
2. Grounds for Release
- Exemplary Service: Park Tae-yeon has been living with a sincere love for the country of Russia and its people since her arrival in 1993. She has no prior criminal history. She has lived her whole life as a single person and has devoted herself to the locals for 33 years, to the point where she says she is married to Russia. She has practiced a life of caring for her neighbors, and her pure spirit of service has become an example for many people around him. Park Tae-yeon is a transparent and good person like a child, without political ideology or impure purpose.
- Health and Safety Risks: Park Tae-yeon purchased a flight ticket to return home to the Republic of Korea in order to retire and receive care from her family due to her age but was prevented from departing due to her arrest.
- Lack of Consular Access: The prisoner has been denied consular access, violating Article 36 of the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.
- Wrongful Detainment: Park Tae-yeon has been charged with an immigration-related offense; however, a report on January 23, 2026 by the state-affiliated Russian media outlet RIA, cites a Khabarovsk city official who reports a months-long investigation by law enforcement agencies into religious camps for children in Khabarovsk. The report says, “As a result of the investigation, the activities of a citizen of the Republic of Korea, who carried out missionary work while hiding behind plausible goals, were stopped.” Ms. Park is clearly among those targeted. By legally charging her with an immigration-related violation but prosecuting a much broader case against her through state-affiliated media, authorities prevent Ms. Park, her family, and her representatives from (1) understanding the full scope of the case against her and (2) accessing appropriate legal resources for her defense. Further, the immigration charge against Ms. Park shields the Russian Federation from international accountability for its growing crackdown on basic religious freedoms in violation of established international norms.
3. Petitioners’ Request
We urgently request that the relevant authorities:
- Immediately release Ms. Park Tae-yeon from detention.
- Ensure Ms.Park Tae-yeon receives immediate consular access.*
- Allow Ms. Park Tae-yeon safe passage back to the Republic of Korea.
We, the undersigned, believe that the continued detention of Ms. Park Tae-yeon is an injustice that violates fundamental human rights.
Respectfully Submitted,
Voice of the Martyrs Korea
Basement level, 26, Solsaem-ro, Seongbuk-gu
Seoul, Korea 02709
*Missionary Park was granted consular access following the posting of the petition
Do the Word 