SEOUL (UCAN): Catholics and Protestants in South Korea have voiced support for a movement seeking to amend legislation that is seen as a benchmark for peace and reconciliation with North Korea but bars any criticism of the communist regime.
The North Korean diaspora, including refugee groups in South Korea and North Korean rights activists in the United States, have been pressing for the amendment of the Development of Inter-Korean Relations Act 2005, also known as the Act on the Prohibition of Spreading Warfare Against North Korea.
The movement wants South Korea to amend the law to allow criticism of human rights violations by the North Korean regime.
During an online public hearing on January 11, Catholic and Protestant leaders voiced support for the move.
The event was jointly organised by the Korean Catholic Bishops’ National Reconciliation Committee and the Reconciliation and Unification Committee of the Korean Christian Church Council (NCCK), an ecumenical body.
Participants also insisted that the law must be a tool for peace on the Korean Peninsula that must continue uninterrupted.
See Joo-hyuk, the NCCK reconciliation and unification commissioner, said that freedom of expression is important but even more essential are efforts to ensure safety and peace for everyone.
“We need a bipartisan attitude that prioritises the lives and safety of the people,” See said.
Father Kang Joo-seok, representing of Korea’s Catholic bishops, called on people of all faiths to give up ignorance about each other and work together for peace on the peninsula.
“Any hardline theory against the North Korean regime can be compared to the sin of ignorance,” Father Kang said.
“We need to reflect on this issue more seriously, and we need peace education and diplomatic efforts of the government to better understand the situation on the Korean Peninsula,” he added.
Sister Oh Hye-jeong, secretary-general of the bishops’ reconciliation committee, expressed similar sentiments.
“I find it regretful that the law is being used not in a life dimension but in a political dimension. I am grateful for being able to contemplate with the Protestants and gather their hearts in a better direction. I hope that today more people will know about human rights in North Korea and join us in solidarity,” Sister Oh said.
