Since the inauguration of the Lee Jae Myung administration, the number of private sector reports approved by the Ministry of Unification for contacts with North Korean residents has exceeded 100.
The Ministry of Unification reported on Friday that from June 4, when the new government took office, until the end of last month, a total of 109 applications for contact with North Korean residents were submitted by private entities. Of these, 106 were accepted, 2 were rejected, and 1 is under review.
The reports were categorized as follows: 52 for socio-cultural exchanges, 26 for economic matters, 19 for humanitarian aid, 8 for development cooperation, and 4 for separated families.
In contrast, last year saw only 48 reported contacts, with a mere 22 accepted. Within just five months of the new administration’s pledge to fully approve contact reports with North Korean residents, the number has more than doubled compared to the previous year’s total.
The Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act mandates that individuals must report to and receive approval from the Ministry of Unification before engaging in contact or communication with North Korean residents. This process is a crucial step in facilitating inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation.
In June 2023, during the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, the Ministry of Unification established internal guidelines specifying criteria for rejecting reports, such as potential espionage risks. However, Minister Chung Dong-young abolished these guidelines just five days after taking office on July 30, announcing a shift from a de facto permit system to a reporting system for contacts with North Korean residents.
This conciliatory approach by the government has prompted many organizations with previous inter-Korean exchange experience to actively seek contact with North Korea. However, despite the Ministry’s approval of 106 reports, actual communication and contact with North Korea have been minimal.
Since late 2023, when North Korea declared its relationship with South Korea as that of two hostile states, it has either dissolved or significantly reduced the functions of its agencies dealing with South Korea, both in private and governmental sectors. This has resulted in the disappearance or substantial narrowing of previously established channels for inter-Korean exchanges.
The government requires individuals who receive prior approval for contact to submit a report on their visit to North Korea within seven days of returning or concluding their contact, to verify the process. However, no recent reports have been submitted by individuals or private organizations.