[Exclusive] Push for Opening North Korean Media Sites on President Lee's Order Stalls at BMC Review Committee

Delay in Forming BMC Review Committee Stalls Lifting of Site Access Restrictions
Senior Government Official: "Public Access Likely to Be Delayed Beyond Expectations"
Review and Decision Procedures by BMC Review Committee Required Under Current I

Following President Lee Jaemyung's directive to improve public access to North Korean media websites such as 'Rodong Sinmun,' the presidential office and relevant ministries accelerated efforts to lift restrictions for the general public. However, it has been confirmed that the process has stalled at the stage of the Broadcasting and Media Communications Review Committee (BMC Review Committee). This is because, due to delays in forming the BMC Review Committee, it is currently impossible to conduct reviews and make resolutions as required by the Information and Communications Network Act. As a result, the timing for when the general public will be able to access North Korean media is likely to be later than initially expected. Regarding the revision of the National Intelligence Service's 'Special Materials Handling Guidelines,' which restrict access to North Korean documents and publications, it has already been reported that the NIS has provided a positive response.

Yonhap News Agency

According to a comprehensive report by The Asia Business Daily on the 26th, the presidential office, together with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Unification and the NIS, conducted prompt working-level reviews and discussions. However, the process concerning the opening of North Korean media websites has not progressed beyond the BMC Review Committee stage. Although the committee was launched on October 1 following a government reorganization, as of December, not a single member, including the chairperson, has been appointed. Separate from the process of enacting or amending legislation, the government sought to take administrative measures that could be implemented immediately. However, with administrative functions halted, the process has reached its limit.

A senior government official stated, "Relevant ministries are conducting working-level reviews, but we cannot proceed further because the BMC Review Committee, which is responsible for reviewing and deciding on expanding public access rights, has not been formed." The official added, "If the vacancy of the review body continues, the timing for the general public to access North Korean media websites will inevitably be delayed."

Previously, on December 19, President Lee Jaemyung, during a work briefing by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification, commented on the current restrictions on access to North Korean media, saying, "Is it because you are worried that people might be swayed by propaganda and become communists?" He further stated, "If we open it up, it will actually provide an opportunity for people to accurately understand the reality of North Korea and realize that 'we should not be like that.'" He added, "We can just open it up. Why make this a national policy issue? It's too solemn." Currently, the government restricts access to about 60 North Korean websites.

Allowing public access to North Korean media websites cannot be achieved through a simple administrative order. Under the current Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (Information and Communications Network Act), for information deemed illegal, a review body must pass a resolution to request corrective action such as deletion or blocking access, and this is how access restrictions are enforced. Since, under the current system, access blocks for specific sites are implemented based on the review body's corrective action decision, lifting such restrictions also requires a change or withdrawal of that decision. Therefore, if the review and resolution body is not functioning, even if relevant ministries make a request, the process cannot move to the next stage.

Specifically, Article 44-7 of the Information and Communications Network Act prohibits the distribution of illegal information and designates "information that performs acts prohibited by the National Security Act" as one type of illegal information. When certain requirements are met, such as requests from relevant central administrative agencies and the review process, the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission (BMC Commission) can order information and communications service providers or bulletin board operators to refuse, suspend, or restrict the handling of such information.

An official from the BMC Review Committee stated, "In the case of information violating the National Security Act, the Communications Review Subcommittee conducts reviews based on Article 44-7, Paragraph 3 of the Information and Communications Network Act, following requests from relevant agencies and review requests from the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission." The official added, "Matters related to lifting corrective action requests require review and resolution after the committee is formed."

Yonhap News Agency

However, the revision of the NIS's 'Special Materials Handling Guidelines' concerning the viewing of North Korean documents, books, and publications is expected to proceed relatively smoothly. This is because the NIS has already provided a positive response to the presidential office and the Ministry of Unification. According to the guidelines, the NIS classifies North Korea-related materials as either 'special materials' or 'general materials.' Rodong Sinmun has been classified as special material and was not made public to the general public. A senior government official explained, "The NIS's Special Materials Handling Guidelines pertain to North Korean documents and books, which are separate from the opening of North Korean media websites," adding, "The NIS has generally given positive responses regarding making materials public."

Meanwhile, although there are some concerns about expanding public access to North Korean media, the prevailing view is that there is no real problem, as this is not a new issue. Although it was not implemented, during the administration of President Yoon Suk-yeol, the Ministry of Unification also pursued a pilot release of Rodong Sinmun and planned to place its microfilm editions in major libraries. Kwon Youngse, a People Power Party lawmaker who served as Minister of Unification under the Yoon administration, wrote on Facebook, "No citizen will be swayed by reading Rodong Sinmun. Now is the time to trust our people and open up North Korean materials." In this way, he expressed his agreement with President Lee's public stance.