Will Restrictions on Contact with Chongryon Members Be Eased? Unification Ministry Says It Will Support Legislative Process

▲ The central headquarters of Chongryon in Tokyo

The government has announced that it will support parliamentary discussions regarding a proposal to abolish the mandatory reporting requirement for South Korean citizens seeking to contact members of the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan, known as Chongryon.

In October of last year, Representative Lee Yong-sun of the Democratic Party of Korea proposed an amendment to the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, which seeks to remove the provision that uniformly classifies Chongryon members as North Korean residents.

The Ministry of Unification stated, "We agree on the necessity of the amendment, considering the purpose of the act to promote exchange and cooperation, the changed policy environment, support for diverse private-sector exchanges, and the national agenda of expanding autonomy for the private sector." The ministry added that it would "actively support the legislative process in the National Assembly."

Article 30 of the current Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act stipulates that "members of overseas organizations that operate in accordance with North Korea's line are considered North Korean residents," thereby classifying Chongryon members as such.

Consequently, South Korean citizens who wish to meet with Chongryon members or engage in cooperative projects must submit a report to the Ministry of Unification in advance, in accordance with the reporting system for contact with North Korean residents. If prior reporting is unavoidable, they are required to report the contact afterward.

Failure to comply with these regulations can result in administrative fines or criminal penalties.

During the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Unification imposed fines on a private organization led by actor Kwon Hae-hyo, "Mongdang Pencil," for "unauthorized contact" while conducting support projects for Chongryon-affiliated schools.

Director Kim Jee-woon, who produced a film about the discrimination faced by Korean residents in Japan, was also investigated for the same charge and received a warning.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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