Controversy Over Yun Mi-hyang's Attendance at Chongryon Event: "Ministry of Unification Fine? Not Valid... Makgeolli's Return to Anti-Communist Law"

Ministry of Unification Reports Violation of Prior Contact Notification under Inter-Korean Exchange Cooperation Act
Yoon Mi-hyang: "Memorial Schedule Does Not Meet Prior Contact Obligation Requirements"
"Invoking National Security Law... Focus on Uncovering Truth of Kanto Massacre"

Yoon Mi-hyang, an independent lawmaker who sparked controversy by attending the memorial ceremony for the Korean victims of the Great Kanto Earthquake massacre hosted by the pro-North Korean organization General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), stated on the 5th, "Most of the memorial projects for the 100th anniversary of the Kanto Massacre are organized and prepared by the 'Kanto Massacre Victims Memorial Executive Committee (Executive Committee), and among the 100 or so organizations in this Executive Committee, Chongryon is one." She added, "I had no intention or plan to meet with Chongryon officials in Japan in relation to this event."

On the same day, Yoon issued an official statement regarding the 100th anniversary memorial projects for the Kanto Massacre, actively refuting the government and ruling party's labeling of her participation in the event as 'pro-North Korean,' calling it a "color-based divisive tactic surrounding the Kanto Massacre event."

In her statement, Yoon detailed the circumstances of her attendance at the academic memorial ceremony for the Great Kanto Earthquake Koreans held in Japan on the 1st. She said, "The Korean Promotion Committee participated as a solidarity organization, and there was a request from the Promotion Committee for members of the National Assembly to participate in the memorial event, so I took part in the memorial schedule in Japan."

Independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang is delivering the opening remarks at the "National Assembly Forum for the Improvement of Welfare for Retired Racehorses" held on the 13th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

She also emphasized that the 100th anniversary memorial projects for the Kanto Massacre are prepared by over 100 organizations, with Chongryon being just one of them, stating, "Besides the event on the 1st, which conservative media are focusing their attacks on, Chongryon also participated in most of the other events. Wherever you go in Japanese civil society, Chongryon is present." She continued, "This year, on the 100th anniversary, even more people transcended ideology to mourn the victims," adding, "In Japanese civil society, the color-based divisive tactics surrounding the Kanto Massacre event, carried out by Korea's conservative media and the People Power Party, are regarded as a comedic situation." She further pointed out, "Only Korea's conservative media and the People Power Party are inflicting wounds again on the victims of the Kanto Massacre through ideological manipulation."

Regarding the Ministry of Unification's consideration of imposing fines for violating the prior contact reporting requirement under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, Yoon countered, "The conditions for mandatory prior contact do not apply, and there was no subsequent contact either."

Earlier, Kim Young-ho, Minister of Unification, pointed out at the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Committee, "Yoon did not report prior contact to the Ministry of Unification regarding her attendance at the Chongryon event," calling it a "violation of current law." Minister Kim added, "Therefore, this constitutes a legal violation, and the Ministry of Unification will proceed with procedures related to this issue in accordance with the law and principles to establish an exchange principle system."

Yoon stated, "According to the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, contact with North Korean residents refers to exchanging information or messages directly or indirectly related to inter-Korean exchange and cooperation with North Korean residents, and if there is direct or indirect communication with North Korean residents, it becomes subject to contact reporting." She said, "Regarding this trip to Japan, I had no intention or plan to meet Chongryon officials, nor any reason to exchange information or messages. Therefore, it is not subject to contact reporting."

She also emphasized, "At minimum, the person to meet, the place, and the reason must be specified, but since I had no such plans at all, the imposition of fines is not valid. I only attended the event and laid flowers; I did not exchange information or messages with Chongryon officials, meaning I did not have contact, so it is not subject to post-reporting, and there was no violation of current law."

She added, "Under the current administration, the Ministry of Unification's attitude toward inter-Korean exchange and cooperation and President Yoon Suk-yeol's order for a 'firm response' are expected to be faithfully answered by the prosecution soon," criticizing, "Eventually, the People Power Party and conservative media are even invoking the National Security Act. This is like a return to the so-called 'Makgeolli Anti-Communist Law era,' where rules are arbitrarily applied depending on convenience."

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