In a situation where inter-Korean relations are strained, a ruling by the court found that the Ministry of Unification's decision to deny a request from a domestic progressive group to contact the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) was justified.
The 8th Division of the Seoul Administrative Court, led by Director General Lee Jeong-hee, ruled against Son Dong-dae, chairman of the Youth and Student Committee of the June 15 Joint Declaration Implementation South Korean Committee, in a lawsuit he filed against the Ministry of Unification requesting the cancellation of its refusal to accept his notification of contact with North Korean residents.
Son filed a notification with the Ministry of Unification in August 2023 to meet with individuals affiliated with the June 15 Japan Region Committee Youth and Student Council, stating that he had received an invitation from them. Individuals affiliated with Chongryon are North Korean nationals, and South Koreans must obtain approval from the Ministry of Unification to contact North Korean residents as stipulated by the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.
However, the Ministry of Unification denied Son's notification of contact with North Korean residents in September of the same year, citing the strained inter-Korean relations as the reason. At that time, North Korea had launched missiles more than 20 times since the inauguration of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Additionally, 74 countries had issued a joint statement condemning North Korea's nuclear missiles.
In response, Son filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Unification. He argued, "Given the heightened inter-Korean conflict, there is no verifiable information available," claiming that the Ministry's refusal to accept the notification goes against the legislative intent of the Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation Act.
However, the court determined that "the Ministry of Unification's refusal to accept the notification of contact was a valid decision." It further stated, "In a situation where inter-Korean relations were strained, there is ample reason to consider that if the defendant were to contact Chongryon, which supports the North Korean regime, it could clearly jeopardize inter-Korean exchange and cooperation and national security."