Ban on Praising North Korea in South Korea Deemed Ridiculous

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In a surprising turn, South Korea, known for its prosperity and democracy, is facing criticism for suppressing free speech. Lee Yoon-seop, a 68-year-old South Korean poet, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison under the National Security Act (NSA) for writing a poem praising North Korea. The NSA, designed to counter espionage and protect the country from spies and traitors, is being criticized for its restrictions on free speech.

While every country has counter-espionage laws, South Korea’s strict regulations can be attributed to its proximity to North Korea, a nuclear-armed nation that considers South Korea its “principal enemy.” The NSA, modeled after a law from Korea’s occupation by Japan, has led to an average of over 60 prosecutions per year since 2003. While some cases involve clear espionage activities, others target satirists and leftists, raising concerns about the law’s broader application.

The case of Lee Yoon-seop is particularly notable. His poem, published on a North Korean website, led to charges under the NSA, as accessing such sites is forbidden. However, the absurdity of claiming that a sexagenarian poet poses a threat to national security is evident. Lee’s verse simply lists South Korean issues he believes North Korea’s leader could solve, making it unlikely to persuade anyone of the glories of the North Korean regime.

This incident reveals a broader authoritarian tendency in South Korea. President Yoon Suk-yeol often demonizes political opponents as “anti-state forces,” a phrase inspired by the NSA. The administration has labeled unfavorable press coverage as “fake news,” leading to raids on media outlets and numerous defamation lawsuits, creating concerns about press freedom.

Despite the criticism, there is little political will to reform the NSA’s illiberal clauses. Even under a more liberal government, the likelihood of significant changes to the law remains low. The current administration, once considering allowing South Koreans access to North Korean media, abandoned the idea, highlighting the lack of support for such reforms. The opposition Democratic Party, too, has shown no inclination to liberalize the law, as seen in its previous attempt to criminalize praise of Japanese colonial rule.

As South Korea positions itself as a democratic link between East and West, its commitment to democratic values comes under scrutiny. President Yoon’s emphasis on democratic values requires a reevaluation, especially when it involves imprisoning individuals for expressing unconventional opinions. Reforming the NSA would be a more fitting response to such sentiments than resorting to bans and restrictions.