Cancellation Hearing for Anti-North Korea Leaflet Group Completed... Government "Plans to Proceed with Related Procedures"

Park Sang-hak, Representative of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, Absent

Park Sang-hak, the representative of the North Korean defector organization 'Free North Korea Movement Alliance,' is getting into a vehicle after the police completed a search and seizure at the 'Free North Korea Movement Alliance' office in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 26th.

The Ministry of Unification announced that the hearing regarding the cancellation of corporate registration for North Korean defector organizations that have been distributing leaflets and goods to North Korea concluded on the morning of the 29th.

The Ministry held hearings that morning for the defector organizations 'Keunsam' and 'Free North Korea Movement Alliance' and initiated the procedure to revoke their nonprofit corporation establishment permits.

Park Jung-oh, the representative of Keunsam, attended the hearing with a lawyer. The Ministry stated that they "presented their opinions regarding the facts and reasons for the disposition as notified in the prior notice of disposition."

The Ministry plans to review the opinions submitted by Keunsam and reflect them in the disposition.

Park Sang-hak, the representative of the Free North Korea Movement Alliance, did not attend the hearing that day.

The Ministry reported, "Representative Park was absent from the hearing without justifiable reason, and no separate submission of opinions was made."

Due to Park's absence, the Ministry concluded the hearing procedure in accordance with Article 35 of the Administrative Procedures Act. The Ministry explained, "After confirming whether there are any additional documents to be submitted, we will proceed with related procedures such as the cancellation disposition."

Meanwhile, Keunsam has sent rice, portable storage devices (USBs), Bibles, and other items in PET bottles floating on the sea to North Korea a total of eight times this year, including on the 23rd of last month. In the prior notice of disposition sent to Keunsam on the 15th, the Ministry explained the reason for revoking the nonprofit corporation establishment permit, stating that "they conducted business activities beyond the original purpose of the corporation establishment."

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

If these organizations have their nonprofit corporation establishment permits revoked, it is expected to impact their fundraising activities. When the Ministry of Unification cancels the nonprofit corporation establishment permit, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the National Tax Service will revoke their designation as donation-eligible organizations. Consequently, membership fees and other sponsorships will be treated as expenses, and individuals or corporations donating to these organizations will no longer enjoy various tax benefits such as income tax and corporate tax reductions.

The Ministry emphasized that the hearing does not necessarily assume the cancellation of the corporation. At a regular briefing that day, spokesperson Yeosang-gi of the Ministry of Unification explained, "This hearing is an act under the Administrative Procedures Act to fully listen to the opinions of stakeholders ahead of the scheduled administrative disposition," adding, "After the hearing is conducted and stakeholders review the results, the administrative disposition will proceed."

According to the Administrative Procedures Act, to cancel an organization's establishment, the authorities must notify the organization of the schedule at least ten days in advance of the hearing date, and the permit can be revoked based on the results of the hearing.

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