A group of South Korean lawyers and civic organizations on Monday called for the Moon Jae-in government to re-investigate the controversial case of 12 North Korean restaurant workers who were reported to have defected in 2016.

The press conference follows reports by local broadcaster JTBC on Thursday that the 12 North Korean workers – who arrived in the South in April 2016 – were brought to the ROK against their will.

Representatives of left-wing organizations and Lawyers for a Democratic Society, widely known as Minbyun, held an emergency news conference in front of the South Korean Presidential office on Monday.