[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 Information and Communications Network Act
President Lee: "Are You Worried People Will Become Communists?"
Orders, "No Need to Make This a National Policy Project, Just Leave It Open"
NIS Gives Positive Response on Changing 'Special Materials Handling Guidelines'

In response to President Lee Jaemyung's directive to improve public access to North Korean media sites such as 'Rodong Sinmun,' the presidential office and relevant ministries accelerated efforts to lift access restrictions for ordinary citizens. 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 or make decisions as required by the Information and Communications Network Act. As a result, there is a growing possibility that the timeline for the general public to gain access to North Korean media will be delayed beyond initial expectations. Regarding the National Intelligence Service's (NIS) 'Special Materials Handling Guidelines,' which restrict access to North Korean documents and publications, it has been reported that the NIS has already provided a positive response about making changes.

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, quickly conducted working-level reviews and discussions. However, the process of opening North Korean media sites has not progressed beyond the BMC Review Committee stage. Although the BMC Review 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 explained, "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. If the vacancy of the review body continues, the timing for the general public to access North Korean media sites will inevitably be pushed back."

Previously, on the 19th, President Lee Jaemyung, during a policy briefing with 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're worried that people might fall for propaganda and become communists?" He added, "If we open it up, it will actually help people understand the reality of North Korea and realize 'we shouldn't be like that.'" He further stated, "We can just leave it open. Why make this a national policy project? It's too solemn." Currently, the government restricts access to around 60 North Korean sites.

Allowing public access to North Korean media sites 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), a review body must decide on 'corrective measures' such as deletion or blocking access to information deemed illegal, and these decisions are then implemented. Since access restrictions to specific sites are enforced based on the review body's corrective action decisions, lifting these restrictions also requires a decision to change or withdraw the original action. Therefore, if the review and decision-making body is not functioning, relevant ministries cannot proceed to the next step, even if they make a request.

Specifically, Article 44-7 of the Information and Communications Network Act prohibits the distribution of illegal information and specifies "information that constitutes acts prohibited by the National Security Act" as one type of illegal information. When certain conditions are met, such as a request from a relevant central administrative agency and a review process, the Broadcasting and Media Communications Commission (BMC Commission) may order information and communications service providers or bulletin board operators to refuse, suspend, or restrict the processing of such information.

An official from the BMC Review Committee stated, "In cases 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 the BMC Commission. Matters related to lifting corrective measures require review and decision by the committee once it is formed."

Yonhap News Agency

However, the process of changing the NIS's 'Special Materials Handling Guidelines' related to the viewing of North Korean documents, books, and publications is expected to proceed relatively smoothly. This is because the NIS has 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,' and Rodong Sinmun has been classified as special materials, making it unavailable 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 sites. The NIS has generally responded positively to the disclosure of these materials."

Meanwhile, although there are some concerns about expanding access to North Korean media, the prevailing view is that there is no significant issue, as this is not a new topic. Even though it was not implemented, during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Unification also sought to pilot the release of Rodong Sinmun and planned to distribute its microfilm editions to major libraries. Kwon Youngse, a lawmaker from the People Power Party who served as Minister of Unification during the Yoon administration, also wrote on Facebook, "There are no citizens who would be swayed by reading Rodong Sinmun. Now is the time to trust our citizens and open up North Korean materials." This indicates his support for President Lee's public disclosure policy.