Ha Tae-kyung: "The Law Banning Anti-North Korea Leaflets Is a Law to Manage the North Korean Dictator's Mood... A National Deception Play"

On the morning of October 15th, at Gyeryongdae in Chungnam, Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, is questioning during the National Assembly National Defense Committee's audit of the Air Force Headquarters. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] Ha Tae-kyung, a member of the People Power Party, criticized the Democratic Party of Korea for passing the amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act, commonly known as the 'Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Act,' at the National Assembly plenary session, calling it "not an Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act but an Anti-North Korean Hallyu Spread Act."

On the 14th, Ha said on his Facebook, "The forced enactment of the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act that blocks the spread of Hallyu in North Korea must not be allowed. The current Anti-North Korea Leaflet Act that the Democratic Party is trying to pass is a public deception," he said.

He continued, "Under the pretext of preventing leaflet distribution in the border areas near the Demilitarized Zone, it has made even the entry of Korean dramas and movies into North Korea through third countries punishable," adding, "I thought it was a law under Kim Yo-jung's orders, but it goes further to control even the feelings of the North Korean dictator."

Ha explained, "Hallyu holds special meaning for North Korean residents. For them, it is a source of vitality that allows them to momentarily forget their hard lives and the only tool to understand South Korean compatriots who have lived differently for over 70 years," and "North Korean residents were able to overcome the false propaganda that South Korea is a colony of the U.S. filled with beggars through Hallyu dramas and movies."

He also said, "Hallyu in North Korea has great significance for peace and unification on the Korean Peninsula," adding, "One of the pillars supporting North Korea's dictatorship has been hostility toward South Korea."

He further stated, "However, North Korean residents who learned through Hallyu that the Republic of Korea desires peace no longer dream of communist unification," and "The most effective means for peace is Korean dramas and movies. This is why the North Korean regime harshly suppresses Hallyu dramas and movies."

Finally, Ha emphasized, "Hallyu is the only means to bridge the alienation between North and South residents who have lived different lives for over 70 years. The relatively mild aftermath of German unification was because East German residents could learn and feel the importance of freedom and human rights through West German culture," and "The anti-unification evil law that blocks the spread of Hallyu in North Korea must not be passed."

On the previous day (the 14th), the amendment to the Inter-Korean Relations Development Act, known as the Anti-North Korea Leaflet Distribution Act, passed the National Assembly plenary session that night. Although the People Power Party continued an unlimited debate filibuster for a full day, the Democratic Party of Korea ended the filibuster with a forced closure vote and processed the amendment. Accordingly, from now on, those caught distributing leaflets to North Korea will face up to three years in prison.

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