[Editorial] Opposing Uri Party’s Move Against the National Security Law

The bill passed at a general meeting of the Uri Party to repeal the National Security Law and to enforce national security elements of the Criminal Law is tantamount to a complete dissolution of the basic spirit of the National Security Law. We wonder how pro-North Korea activities and espionage will be checked and punished in this way.

The ruling party said the new law will more broadly define espionage. The amendment may cause legislative controversy since North Korea is not a foreign country and since its people are not foreigners. Without suggesting an alternate clause, it has removed NSL clauses punishing the encouragement and praise of the enemy, as well as meeting and communicating with the enemy and escaping to enemy territory.

Under its bill, anti-national security activities will go unpunished as long as they are not instructed by the subversive organization. There is nothing we can do if the national flag of the North is being waved in the heart of Seoul. The ruling party’s bill, in many ways, falls short of responding to crimes that endanger the very existence of the state.

Some Uri Party lawmakers with liberal leanings at the meeting argued for the repeal of the NSL and said, “What is more important are the hearts and minds of the party’s supporters and what we have been wishing for” Gen-386-ers favoring progressives while ignoring the opinion and feelings of the entire public is hardly acceptable. The issues of national security and governance are completely different than their college club activities

In advanced democratic countries, anti-national security activities are sternly responded to. Freedom and democracy cannot protect those who endanger them. In a once war-torn and still-divided country, the repeal of the NSL will not only involve risk but also will push the country into confusion. The prosecution and other national security agencies complain that they cannot get spies when the bill passes into law.

There were unfortunate times in history when the NSL was used to violate human rights and defend political regimes. However, the maturity of democracy in our society won’t allow human rights abuses by the NSL. Since the democratization of the country, many poisonous clauses have been lifted. Not long ago, the Constitutional Court found some clauses to be unconstitutional. The revision, not repeal, of the NSL should be more consistent with the rulings by the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. The ruling party, which is responsible for governance, should not be dragged on by liberal lawmakers who are reform-biased. They should not push through the repeal of the NSL, which will leave the public nervous. We urge the ruling party to negotiate a new bill with the opposition party to address security concerns.