The content of the Rodong Sinmun is merely North Korea's thoughts and position. It cannot be considered the truth. [Photo=Yonhap News] 

Concerns are growing regarding President Lee Jae-myung's directive to open access to North Korea's Rodong Sinmun.

The President stated that restricting access to the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North Korean Workers' Party, "greatly underestimates the public's level of understanding" and proposed opening access to North Korean media materials to the general public.

In other words, the argument is that there is no possibility of our citizens being swayed by North Korea's regime propaganda.

Even those who support opening the Rodong Sinmun argue that if citizens view North Korean media, they may develop a critical perspective on the North Korean regime, making it effective for anti-communist education.

Some cite the opening of Japanese popular culture, which the Kim Dae-jung administration actively promoted in 1998, as an example, arguing that "although there were concerns at first, opening it up had a positive impact on social development."

However, the directive from the Lee Jae-myung administration to open North Korean media and the opening of Japanese culture show a stark difference in their objectives and ripple effects.

The opening of North Korean media focused on the 'public's right to know,' whereas the opening of Japanese culture aimed at 'expanding the market through cultural exchange.'

The opening of Japanese popular culture was based on the 'Korea-Japan Joint Declaration' between President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.

Through this, both countries gained a new understanding of each other, improved relations, and, most importantly, the Korean domestic cultural industry experienced a leap forward. Furthermore, the cultural opening was carried out in stages through one to three phases, resulting in less public resistance.

Rodong Sinmun referring to Chairman Kim Jong-un as 'has-ee-yeot-da'. Yonhap News 

However, opening access to North Korean media is merely a general measure by South Korea towards North Korea. It is not mutual opening. Opening the Rodong Sinmun, which is classified as special material under the National Security Act, is also not inter-Korean exchange. And if South Korea opens the Rodong Sinmun to its citizens, do you think the North Korean authorities will allow their residents to watch South Korean dramas, newspapers, and broadcasts?

Because North Korea views South Korea as an adversarial state, they will naturally view it from their own perspective. The content of the Rodong Sinmun is merely their thoughts and their position. Then, how is the Rodong Sinmun any different from fake news?

Just like fake news, how will the social chaos and division that the Rodong Sinmun could bring be prevented? How will the anxiety conveyed to the public be resolved? The public's fatigue will also increase as they have to refute the falsehoods in the Rodong Sinmun one by one.

The leftist pro-North Korea forces are already spreading misinformation to mislead the public. If the Rodong Sinmun is also opened, it will be like adding fuel to the fire.

Is 'Let's trust the people' correct, while 'Let's protect the people from harmful information' is wrong? The Democratic Party, which hushes up even an entertainer's juvenile delinquency record, why is it so eager to protect the public's right to know this time?

Reporter Lim Yo-hee