Ha Yeon-ho, representative of Jeonbuk People's Action, who was accused of violating the National Security Act, had his two-year prison sentence finalized by the Supreme Court on the 24th. He is accused of meeting with North Korean operatives, identified as A, in Vietnam and China from 2013 to 2019 to coordinate meeting schedules. [Photo=Yonhap News] 

 Kim Tae-san, Advisor, Former North Korean Trading Company Representative in the Czech Republic31 individuals, including Min Hyung-bae of the Democratic Party, Kim Jun-hyung of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, and Yoon Jong-oh of the Progressive Party, have proposed the abolition of the National Security Act, which has protected the Republic of Korea for the past 77 years. 

That's not all. The Democratic Party has even proposed a revision to the law that would allow free access and browsing of North Korean websites.

The Democratic Party intends to legalize all anti-state activities of spies, pro-North Korea, pro-China, and anti-state organizations by completely abolishing the National Security Act, which has protected the Republic of Korea to date. They are now acting with impunity, believing there is nothing to fear.

Henceforth, all activities of North Korean and Chinese spies and anti-state organizations, hidden behind the guise of freedom of thought and ideology, will be legalized on Korean soil. 

This is a conspiracy by those who wish to sever the Republic of Korea's last lifeline.

I learned that South Korea has a National Security Act and that North Korea intensely dislikes it in June 2000, during Kim Dae-jung's visit to Pyongyang. 

At that time, Kim Jong-il and Kim Dae-jung, during their discussion on "Federalist Unification," agreed that President Kim Dae-jung would be responsible for carrying out the withdrawal of US forces in Korea and the dismantling of South Korea's National Security Act, which were the biggest obstacles to federal unification.

President Kim Dae-jung (left) and North Korean National Defense Commission Chairman Kim Jong-il, who announced the June 15th Inter-Korean Joint Declaration in Pyongyang in 2000. [Photo=Yonhap News]

However, after the signing of the inter-Korean agreement on June 15th, Kim Dae-jung cautiously told Kim Jong-il that he had one suggestion. Kim Jong-il readily told him to speak. 

Kim Dae-jung said, "Chairman of the National Defense Commission, while I can do everything else for federal unification, the withdrawal of US forces is somewhat difficult for me to achieve."

Then Kim Jong-il replied, "Ah! In that case, I will have the US forces withdrawn. President, please quickly abolish the National Security Act." To this, Kim Dae-jung vowed, "As soon as I return, I will definitely abolish the National Security Act." 

As a result, North Koreans learned that South Korea had a National Security Act and that it was a major obstacle to the realization of Kim Jong-il's strategy towards the South.

However, while Kim Dae-jung did manage to deal with the NIS and all counter-espionage departments, he did not dare to abolish the National Security Act. The Lee Jae-myung administration is attempting to push forward with this act of national betrayal that Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun, and Moon Jae-in dared not even attempt.

I confidently state that what has sustained Korea until now is not only the debt owed to the US forces but also the presence of the National Security Act. Had there been no National Security Act, Korea would have vanished like foam in the face of North Korea's strategy towards the South. 

Over the past 80 years, how many North Korean spies, anti-government organizations, underground party organizations, and armed groups have been exposed, knowingly or unknowingly to the public? Now, all of them will be resurrected and tighten the Republic of Korea's final grip while receiving state subsidies.

There is no country in the world with as many spies and underground anti-state organizations as Korea. The National Security Act has played a brilliant role in protecting the Republic of Korea and its citizens from their covert schemes to this day.

However, that very National Security Act is now facing its doom. Korea will now become a world where North Korean and Chinese spies, anti-state organizations, and hidden armed groups roam freely. Propaganda glorifying North Korea and venerating the Kim dynasty will flood the streets, and education for future generations will be communist in nature. 

Even with the National Security Act still in effect, 151 individuals were referred to prosecution for violating the Security Act in the past five years alone. Of these, 29 individuals secretly traveled to and from North Korea. Now, imagine what will happen if the National Security Act is abolished. The number of North Korean flags will outnumber the Taegeukgi, and traitors will be more rampant than patriots.

There is only one path. The Republic of Korea can survive only if the entire nation rises up and prevents the abolition of the National Security Act.

Advisor, Hanmi Ilbo; Former North Korean Trading Company Representative in the Czech Republic