Gov't supports bill easing restrictions on civilian contact with N. Koreans: lawmaker

The government supports a bill that would remove its authority to block South Koreans from contacting North Korean residents, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo said Thursday. The revision would keep the prior-reporting requirement under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act but would eliminate the ministry’s power to reject contacts on security or public-order grounds. Critics warned that the change could weaken safeguards against illegal activities such as unauthorized remittances to the North.

Under the current law, South Korean nationals must report planned contact with North Korean residents to the unification ministry in advance.

The ministry can now reject contact requests if they are seen as undermining inter-Korean cooperation or threatening national security, public order or public welfare.

Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party proposed the revision, and Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the People Power Party cited a Unification Ministry report saying the government backs it.

Published Sep 17, 2026 10:18 am KST

An elderly North Korean woman sheds tears as she bids farewell to her long-lost kin from South Korea in a bus after the second round of the 21st inter-Korean family reunion event at the North's Mount Kumgang resort, Aug. 26, 2018. Yonhap

The government has expressed support for a bill that would ease restrictions on South Koreans seeking to contact North Korean residents by removing its authority to block such contacts, officials said Thursday.

Under the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act, South Korean nationals planning to make contact with North Koreans are required to file a report in advance with the unification ministry.

The ministry may reject such requests if there are clear concerns that the contact may undermine inter-Korean cooperation or pose a threat to national security, public order or public welfare.

A revision proposed by Rep. Kim Joon-hyung of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party seeks to remove the government's authority to reject such requests, and the government has decided to support the move, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo of the main opposition People Power Party said, citing a report from the unification ministry.

The ministry confirmed its position, saying, "The government supports the proposed revision, considering the law's purpose of promoting inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation, operating a system consistent with the prior-reporting system and expanding autonomy in civilian exchanges and cooperation."

The ministry stressed that the reporting system will still remain in place under the revision, requiring all South Koreans to report their planned contacts with North Koreans in advance.

Critics have raised concerns that the envisioned revision may leave the government with fewer measures to prevent illegal activities, such as unauthorized remittances to the North.

"Opening and expanding the door to civilian exchanges and the government turning a blind eye are two completely different issues," Rep. Ahn said. "The government must present concrete measures to the public before giving up its authority to prevent contacts that clearly pose risks."

韩国众议员安哲洙周四表示，政府支持一项法案，该法案将取消政府阻止韩国公民与朝鲜居民接触的权力。修订后的法案将保留《朝韩交流合作法》规​​定的事先报告要求，但会取消韩国外交部以安全或公共秩序为由拒绝接触的权力。批评人士警告称，此举可能会削弱对非法活动（例如向朝鲜非法汇款）的防范措施。

根据现行法律，韩国公民必须提前向统一部报告计划与朝鲜居民接触的情况。

如果接触请求被认为会破坏韩朝合作或威胁国家安全、公共秩序或公共福利，则该部现在可以拒绝此类请求。

韩国重建党议员金俊亨提出了这项修改建议，国民力量党议员安哲洙援引统一部报告称政府支持这项修改。

发布于2026年9月17日上午10:18（韩国标准时间）

2018年8月26日，在朝鲜金刚山度假区举行的第21届朝韩家庭团聚活动第二轮结束后，一位朝鲜老妇人在巴士上与失散多年的韩国亲人告别时泪流满面。（韩联社）

官员们周四表示，政府已表示支持一项法案，该法案将放宽对韩国人与朝鲜居民联系的限制，取消政府阻止此类联系的权力。

根据《朝韩交流合作法》，计划与朝鲜人接触的韩国国民必须事先向统一部提交报告。

如果存在明显的担忧，认为此类接触可能会破坏韩朝合作或对国家安全、公共秩序或公共福利构成威胁，则该部可以拒绝此类请求。

据主要反对党国民力量党议员安哲洙援引统一部的一份报告称，由小党重建韩国党议员金俊亨提出的一项修订案旨在取消政府拒绝此类请求的权力，而政府已决定支持这一举措。

该部确认了自己的立场，称“考虑到该法旨在促进韩朝交流与合作，运行与事先报告制度相一致的制度，并扩大民间交流与合作的自主性，政府支持这项拟议的修订。”

该部强调，修订后的制度仍将保留报告制度，要求所有韩国人提前报告他们计划与朝鲜人接触的情况。

批评人士担心，设想中的修订可能会使政府在防止非法活动（例如向北方的未经授权的汇款）方面采取的措施减少。

“开放和扩大民间交流的大门与政府视而不见是两码事，”安议员说。“政府必须先向公众提出具体措施，才能放弃阻止明显存在风险的接触的权力。”