Leaflet Distribution North Korean Defector Group Faces Corporate Cancellation... Government to Hold Hearing Today

The view of the area around Kaepung County, Hwanghae Province, North Korea, as seen from Odusan Unification Observatory in Paju, Gyeonggi Province on the 28th.

The government, which has announced a strict response regarding the leaflet (ppira) issue directed at North Korea, is set to begin formal procedures to revoke the corporate status of defector organizations that have been distributing leaflets and goods.

On the 29th, the Ministry of Unification conducted hearings for the defector organizations 'Keunsam' and 'Free North Korea Movement Alliance' and initiated the process to cancel their nonprofit corporation establishment permits.

Keunsam sent PET bottles containing rice, portable storage devices (USBs), and Bibles to North Korea a total of eight times this year, including on the 23rd of last month.

In a prior notice of disposition sent to Keunsam on the 15th, the Ministry of Unification explained the reason for canceling the nonprofit corporation establishment permit, stating that "business activities outside the original purpose of the corporation's establishment were conducted."

The Ministry of Unification plans to hold a hearing with Keunsam's representative Park Jeong-o on the morning of the same day. Representative Park is expected to attend the hearing and actively argue that their activities do not constitute "business outside the purpose of the corporation's establishment."

If the government cancels Keunsam's nonprofit corporation establishment permit, the organization is reportedly preparing legal responses such as filing for a provisional suspension of effectiveness and administrative lawsuits requesting the cancellation of the disposition.

Park Sang-hak, representative of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance and elder brother of Park Jeong-o, claims that they have not received the prior notice of disposition, so it is expected that they will not attend the hearing that day.

However, since the Ministry of Unification maintains that the prior notice of disposition was properly delivered to Park Sang-hak's side via direct delivery, the hearing is expected to proceed as scheduled even if Park Sang-hak does not attend.

If these organizations have their nonprofit corporation establishment permits revoked, it is anticipated that their fundraising activities will be significantly impacted.

After the Ministry of Unification cancels the nonprofit corporation establishment permits, if the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Tax Service revoke their designation as authorized donation organizations, members' dues and other sponsorships will be treated as expenses, and individuals and corporations donating to these organizations will no longer enjoy various tax benefits such as income tax and corporate tax reductions.

Meanwhile, after North Korea harshly criticized the South Korean government for tolerating and neglecting the leaflet distribution activities of defector organizations, the government has announced strict measures and punishments.

On the 23rd, the Ministry of Unification stated, "The government expresses deep regret over the attempts by Park Sang-hak, representative of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, and related parties to distribute leaflets and goods to North Korea while the government has announced a policy prohibiting the distribution of leaflets and goods to North Korea and is conducting investigations."

The Ministry of Unification emphasized, "The government, in cooperation with the police and related agencies, will take strict measures against these actions by Park Sang-hak and related parties." The Ministry added, "The distribution of leaflets and goods to North Korea escalates tensions between the two Koreas and threatens the lives and safety of local residents," and reaffirmed, "We will respond strongly."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.