Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun (left) sent a handwritten letter from prison to Roy Kim (right), author of "The Dandong Project." [Photo: Hanmi Ilbo · Yonhap News]

In a handwritten letter sent from prison to Roy Kim, author of "The Dandong Project," Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun expressed deep concern and agreement as a security expert, warning that the primary front line of South Korea's national security has shifted to "cyberspace" and the "electoral system." 

In the letter written on the 12th, Minister Kim extended his greetings, stating, "I have gratefully received the valuable book 'The Dandong Project,' which you authored yourself." "The Dandong Project" is regarded as a seminal work that has empirically tracked North Korea's cyber infiltration operations and allegations of election fraud. 

Minister Kim continued by mentioning "the massive cyber infiltration operation of North Korea that began in Dandong, China, targeting the national security and democracy of South Korea," and stated, "I am deeply grateful for how this book has reaffirmed my conviction regarding 'election fraud' through clear, substantive truth and logical proof." 

In particular, after directly quoting the preface of "The Dandong Project," Minister Kim expressed strong empathy for the evolution of modern warfare into "hybrid warfare" that transcends physical conflict, stating, "I hope this book becomes a 'must-read' for all South Korean citizens."

He quoted, "One of the most powerful weapons in hybrid warfare is election interference. Without using military force, one can replace a country's leader from the outside and steer national governance in a desired direction," adding, "Because all of this is done under the veneer of 'democratic choice,' it appears as if it were the result of the people's own choosing, making it difficult to detect or prove the traces of outside interference." 

In doing so, he emphasized that the foundation of democracy lies in "trust in election results," agreeing with the book's warning that the moment the belief that a voter's ballot will be accurately counted and reflected is shaken, democracy remains only a hollow shell. 

Specifically, Minister Kim cited the case of Venezuela—once a representative wealthy nation in South America, now devastated and producing millions of refugees—stressing, "Venezuela was once the most affluent democracy in South America, but one of the starting points for its descent into a horrific reality where millions are starving and over six million have fled the country was the moment the credibility of its election system collapsed." 

At the end of the letter, Minister Kim revealed that he had also thoroughly read the author's previous works, such as "Hacker's Fingerprint" and "The Hidden Republic of Korea," and requested that he "also convey my thanks to CEO Kim Mi-young for awakening us to the 'crisis situation' of South Korea beyond just the issue of 'election fraud'." 

Minister Kim Yong-hyun's letter from prison.