North Korea Leaflet Distribution Forced by Defector Group, Corporate Cancellation Imminent... Park Sang-hak Writes in WP "Government Blocks Pro-North Activities"

Deadline for Submitting Opinions: 15th, Corporate Cancellation Possible as Early as This Week

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Despite strong recommendations to refrain from leaflet distribution, the Ministry of Unification is expected to cancel the establishment permits of the defector organizations Freedom Korea United Movement and Keunsaem as early as this week for forcibly distributing leaflets to North Korea.

According to the government on the 14th, the Ministry of Unification has instructed Park Sang-hak, the representative of Freedom Korea United Movement, to submit his opinion on the cancellation of the corporate establishment permit by the 15th. This is a follow-up measure after Park did not attend the hearing held by the Ministry of Unification on the 29th of last month, where he was given an opportunity to explain. On the other hand, Park Jung-oh, the representative of Keunsaem and younger brother of Park Sang-hak, attended the hearing and therefore does not need to submit a separate opinion.

If Park Sang-hak does not submit his opinion by the 15th, it will be considered that he accepts the government's cancellation of the corporate establishment permit. Once the cancellation is finalized, Freedom Korea United Movement and Keunsaem will lose their corporate status. Losing corporate status will result in the cancellation of their designation as tax-deductible donation organizations and they will no longer receive tax benefits. However, if Park Sang-hak raises objections by the deadline of the 15th, the cancellation process is expected to take longer.

Before submitting his opinion, on the 13th (local time), Park Sang-hak strongly criticized the South Korean government for blocking leaflet distribution in an op-ed sent to The Washington Post (WP). In the article titled "We Send Food and Information to North Korea. Why Is South Korea Trying to Stop Us?" published on the WP website, Park referred to Kim Yo-jong, the First Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, who condemned activists distributing leaflets to North Korea, stating, "Shockingly, President Moon Jae-in seems to agree with the dictator's sister." He added, "President Moon is obstructing the efforts of activists and defectors who tell alternative stories," and argued that "silenced defectors cannot inform the world about the brutal acts occurring inside North Korea."

Park Sang-hak has persistently distributed leaflets to North Korea despite concerns from residents in border areas, causing controversy. There have been frequent clashes with local residents during the leaflet distribution process. The organization distributed leaflets on May 31, including those strongly opposed by Kim Yo-jong and other senior North Korean officials, and again distributed 500,000 leaflets on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Korean War. North Korea used these leaflet distributions by defector organizations as a pretext to take extreme retaliatory measures, including blowing up the inter-Korean joint liaison office last month.

Meanwhile, Park Sang-hak is also under police investigation for allegedly throwing bricks and swinging fists at reporters covering him, causing injuries.