News In Brief

South Korean plans to free jailed dissident students

South Korea will unconditionally release all students who are still in jail for antigovernment activities, Education Minister Kwon E-Hyock said Wednesday. Mr. Kwon, who did not state how many students were involved, said they would be freed to return to their studies as soon as all the necessary legal procedures had been completed.

Almost 300 students were arrested last year and charged with involvement in antigovernment demonstrations.

But the government has since taken more lenient steps, allowing more than 1, 360 students who had been expelled to be reinstated and releasing more than 100 jailed students under a Christmas amnesty.