Gov't supports bill easing restrictions on civilian contact with N. Koreans: lawmaker
The government has expressed support for a bill that would ease restrictions on South Koreans seeking to contact North Korean residents by removing its authority to block such contacts, officials said Thursday. Under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, South Korean nationals planning to make contact with North Koreans are required to file a report in advance with the unification…
The South Korean government has voiced its backing for a proposed bill aimed at easing restrictions on civilian contact with North Koreans, according to officials. Under the existing Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, South Korean citizens who wish to engage with residents in the North must first obtain permission from the unification ministry.
This authority to deny such requests is based on concerns that the interaction could undermine inter-Korean cooperation or pose a risk to national security, public order, or public welfare.
Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the Rebuilding Korea Party introduced a revision to the proposed bill, seeking to remove the government's power to reject contact requests outright. The government has now decided to support this revision, with Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the main opposition People Power Party confirming this stance based on a report from the unification ministry.
The ministry itself has officially stated its agreement with the proposed change, emphasizing that the bill's primary objective is to foster inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation by streamlining the process for civilian contact.
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