Taeyoungho: "Created 'Leaflet Ban Law' on Kim Yo-jong's Order"... Heated Debate Over Law Prohibiting North Korean Leaflet Distribution

Tae Young-ho and United Party Lawmakers: "Amendment to Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation Act Violates Freedom of Expression"
Song Young-gil, Committee Chair: "Please Speak Respectfully, Learning from Customs and Respecting the Other Side"

Tae Young-ho, a member of the United Future Party, attended the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd and questioned regarding the 'Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act.'
Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Su-wan] A heated debate erupted between ruling and opposition party lawmakers in the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee over a bill to amend the Act on Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation to ban the distribution of leaflets to North Korea. When the Democratic Party attempted to submit the related bill, Tae Yong-ho, a member of the Future United Party and former charg? d'affaires at the North Korean embassy in the UK, strongly criticized, saying, "Are you making laws this quickly in Seoul just because Kim Yo-jong told you to?"

On the 3rd, at the plenary meeting of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Rep. Tae said, "Even the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea waits until the next regular session in April if Kim Jong-un orders it," adding, "If you hate Kim Jong-un's hereditary dictatorship system, such laws should not come out of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea. Is the ban on leaflet distribution to North Korea such an urgent issue?"

He continued, "Anyway, even if I oppose it, I believe these bills will go to the plenary session, but the ban on leaflet distribution to North Korea is an anti-democratization law. As democratization activists, I feel frustrated that you made such a law."

Ruling party lawmakers strongly condemned Rep. Tae for saying that the ban on leaflet distribution to North Korea was a law "made because Kim Yo-jong wanted it." The Democratic Party also argued that leaflet distribution should be banned to ensure the safety of residents in the leaflet distribution areas.

Song Young-gil, chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee from the Democratic Party, pointed out, "It is difficult to discuss when you slander the intention by saying it is a law to help Kim Jong-un and fundamentally deny the bill proposed by the opposing party." He then urged Rep. Tae, "I hope you learn the customs and speak with respect for others."

Minister of Unification Lee In-young also emphasized the enactment of the law, saying, "It is a reasonable judgment that North Korea is highly likely to take military action in the future citing leaflet distribution as a reason." He added, "When one person's freedom infringes on another's freedom, we must clearly take a balanced view. The spirit of the constitution talks about liberal democracy, but it is not extreme liberalism. If you look at whether freedom that threatens the safety and life of others can be tolerated, it is not tolerated by the spirit of the constitution."

Kim Young-ho, the Democratic Party's secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said, "If you decide what is more important between freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution and the life and safety of the people, I judge it to be 'life and safety,'" adding, "Freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution is not unlimited freedom."

Song Young-gil, Chairman of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, is striking the gavel at the plenary meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Future United Party opposed the bill, arguing that it has "unconstitutional elements such as infringement on freedom of expression."

Ahead of the meeting, Rep. Ji Seong-ho of the Future United Party released a review report on 18 bills and claimed that there were problems with the relevant bills. According to the report, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's professional staff and legislative investigators pointed out that the regulation banning leaflet distribution to North Korea "may excessively infringe on freedom of expression guaranteed by the constitution" and "additional review is needed to determine whether regulation is possible within the legal system."

Rep. Kim Ki-hyun of the Future United Party said, "The government's role is to ensure the safety of residents in border areas by methods such as not disclosing the locations of leaflet distribution," adding, "It is not acceptable to excessively infringe on the people's freedom rights."

Rep. Kim Seok-ki of the Future United Party also joined in, saying, "After Kim Yo-jong, First Deputy Director of the North Korean Workers' Party, ordered the creation of the leaflet distribution ban law, the Ministry of Unification held an unscheduled briefing within four hours and said they were preparing the bill," adding, "That is why the public calls this the 'Kim Yo-jong command law.'"

As the ruling and opposition parties failed to narrow their differences that day, the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee decided to refer the bills containing the ban on leaflet distribution to North Korea to the agenda adjustment subcommittee for further review.

Meanwhile, the Act on Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation recently aimed to completely block the distribution of leaflets by defectors to North Korea, including drones, balloons, and leaflets as items subject to approval for import and export to North Korea. It also requires prior notification of leaflet distribution activities to the Minister of Unification.