[The Editors' Verdict] Is This a Nation?

The amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act and the so-called Act to Prohibit Leaflet Distribution to North Korea recently passed the relevant standing committee. These laws form the foundation of the nation that protects the country's identity. The ruling party, holding an absolute majority, pushed these crucial foundational laws through by force. The ruling party insists on legitimacy by borrowing the legislative form of majority rule. However, majority-rule legislation cannot be free from criticism that it does not guarantee the identity of the Republic of Korea. This is because damage to identity can undermine the constitutional spirit and destroy the foundation of our free democratic basic order. Therefore, these amendments are being evaluated not as reform legislation but as harmful laws that worsen the situation.

First, there are growing concerns about the amendment to the National Intelligence Service Act, which transfers the entire counterintelligence investigative authority to the police. The core of the amendment is to transfer the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority to the police. It is obvious that this transfer of investigative authority will lead to a weakening of professional capabilities. In particular, if the NIS's counterintelligence investigative authority is abolished and the NIS's North Korea-related intelligence and the police's counterintelligence investigations are separated, counterintelligence capabilities will be significantly weakened. There is also criticism that the link with overseas intelligence in espionage investigations could be cut off. It is likened to entrusting heart surgery to a general surgeon rather than a cardiac specialist and severing the chain of intelligence cooperation. Furthermore, plans are being considered to convert security investigation police into general investigative police, and related budgets are reportedly sharply reduced. These measures aim to weaken the police's security investigation capabilities. It appears clear that these measures will leave neither the NIS nor the police capable of conducting counterintelligence investigations. As a result, frontline officers sigh that they "cannot even think about catching spies." A country that enacts laws that undermine its foundation is not a healthy nation.

Next, the Act to Prohibit Leaflet Distribution to North Korea, which bans leaflet distribution and loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas, is also problematic. This law was pushed by the government and ruling party immediately after the June 4 statement by Kim Yo-jong, which accused "South Korean authorities' defectors of engaging in anti-Republic hostile acts." This was a wrong response, as it appeared the government had succumbed to Kim Yo-jong's abusive remarks, who took on the role of the "bad cop." Such submissive behavior has repeatedly damaged our national dignity severely. Therefore, the leaflet prohibition law has been harshly criticized as the "Kim Yo-jong directive law," and voices in the U.S. political circles express concerns about the deterioration of freedom of expression and democracy. On the other hand, the Minister of Unification described it as a "law for the safety of citizens' lives," a "law to promote inter-Korean relations," and a "law to enhance peace on the Korean Peninsula," stating that they would "build a foundation for the development of inter-Korean relations in accordance with the resolution's intent." Since April, the Ministry of Unification has remained silent on North Korea's abusive remarks and atrocities, instead canceling corporate registration for organizations distributing leaflets to North Korea and strengthening audits of North Korean human rights organizations. The fundamental problem with the leaflet prohibition law is that it blocks the flow of information to North Korea. Informing North Koreans is a spiritual support that delivers messages of freedom, democracy, human rights, and peace, and is a timely responsibility to build a free democratic unification infrastructure. Neglecting the unification infrastructure is not the path of a true nation.

The recent actions of the Ministry of Unification are also very disappointing. On the 18th of last month, Minister Lee In-young's proposal for vaccine support, expecting a response from North Korea, was rejected the next day as "non-essential goods," damaging both dignity and national prestige. Then, on the 23rd, Minister Lee called for the reconstruction of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office, the resumption of the Kaesong Industrial Complex project, and cooperation from four major companies for the prompt resumption of inter-Korean economic cooperation. Setting aside the fact that these multiple "love calls" to North Korea may conflict with international sanctions enforcement, the reality is that inter-Korean economic cooperation must be suspended due to North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations. The logical course is for North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons and missile provocations and return to the framework of international norms. Therefore, the government should first inform North Korea of the reasons for the suspension of inter-Korean economic cooperation and urge North Korea to return to the framework of international norms. Instead of obsessing over unreciprocated "love calls" to North Korea, it is a priority to devise measures for North Korea's substantive change. Neglecting these timely tasks and only fostering illusions about North Korea is not the behavior of a proper nation.

Jo Young-ki, Special Professor at the Graduate School of Political Science, Kookmin University & Chairman of the Advanced Unification Research Group, Korea Peninsula Advancement Foundation