A group of lawmakers from South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party is seeking to relax a decades-old ban on North Korean websites like the online Rodong Sinmun, reigniting debate over national security and freedom of information.
The proposed revision, drafted by Representative Han Min-soo and 11 other lawmakers, would allow people in South Korea to freely visit North Korean websites, while maintaining existing bans on distributing or actively promoting content that violates the National Security Act.
“Blocking access excessively limits citizens’ most basic right to information and undermines their ability to freely use the materials needed to shape public discourse on North Korea and unification,” Han said.
Advertisement
“By permitting access to and viewing of North Korean websites, the aim is to clarify the original intent of regulations on information distribution and to expand citizens’ opportunities to obtain information about the North, and thereby promote a more balanced understanding of the country.”
Supporters frame the change as a necessary update for a mature democracy, arguing that citizens should be trusted to judge propaganda for themselves and that blanket blocking is an excessive restriction on their constitutional rights.
I doubt simply viewing North Korean media would have a major impact on people’s thinking. Perhaps this debate reflects a lack of trust in our own citizens
“For those of us studying human rights in North Korea, we closely examine Rodong Sinmun and other reports published there,” said Song Han-na, executive director of the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights, a Seoul-based non-governmental organisation. “I doubt simply viewing North Korean media would have a major impact on people’s thinking … Perhaps this debate reflects a lack of trust in our own citizens.”
Advertisement