Unification Minister Jeong Dong-young announced on October 27 that he would push for the normalization of access to the Gyeongui Line North-South Access Office's exhibition hall. He criticized the United Nations Command for strictly limiting access to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) not only for military matters but also for non-military areas such as forest, ecological, and cultural heritage investigations, calling it a "serious issue."
During a comprehensive audit at the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, Jeong stated that the Ministry of Unification is not participating in discussions between the Ministry of National Defense and the UN Command regarding the military demarcation line (MDL) baseline. However, the ministry is involved in a separate intergovernmental task force that discusses various issues within the DMZ.
In response to a question from Lee Jae-gang, a member of the Democratic Party, about whether he would pursue the normalization of access to the exhibition hall, Jeong replied, "The UN Command and the Ministry of National Defense will closely coordinate, and the Ministry of Unification will also participate."
Earlier, the UN Command requested that access to the exhibition hall operated by the Ministry of Unification be granted only after prior approval in March. In April, it demanded restrictions on the number of visitors and the installation of closed-circuit television and fencing, citing that part of the parking lot on the exhibition hall site is located north of the southern limit line, thus falling within the DMZ.
Jeong explained, "When the Gyeongui Line Access Office and the entry gate were constructed in 2003, the exhibition hall was built separately. The UN Command raised concerns about the parking lot area being north of the southern limit line, and we are currently in close discussions."
He emphasized that the exhibition hall is a facility for the 4,000 to 5,000 policy visitors who annually visit the Gyeongui Line Access Office to view the exhibits, describing it as a "non-military purpose facility."
Lee criticized the UN Command for not approving visits to the DMZ by journalists and religious figures while responding passively to North Korea's installation of barbed wire and landmines around the MDL, calling it a "double standard."
Jeong noted that investigations by the Korea Forest Service into forest conditions, the Ministry of Environment's climate and ecological studies, the Cultural Heritage Administration's cultural heritage investigations, and the Ministry of Unification's research on disappeared villages have been strictly limited since 2024. He added that the Korea Forest Service's request for an investigation this year was also denied.
He stated, "Applying strict jurisdiction over the DMZ to forestry, environmental, cultural, and academic fields is a serious issue," and expressed that he believes the UN Command's previous flexible approach to investigations into forests, climate, and cultural heritage was appropriate.
Regarding the transfer of wartime operational control, Jeong argued that the focus should be on establishing a timeline rather than meeting conditions. In response to a question from Park Sung-jun of the Democratic Party, he said, "The transfer of operational control was initially prepared with a specific timeline, but the Lee Myung-bak administration extended the timeline, and the Park Geun-hye administration changed it to a conditional basis. Military capabilities and readiness against nuclear and missile threats, as well as the security environment, are conditions that are perpetually difficult to meet." He emphasized the need to seriously reconsider the approach taken during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, which specified a timeline.
Jeong also expressed support for the need to expand the Ministry of Unification's overseas representatives. In response to a suggestion from Kim Young-ho of the Democratic Party to dispatch officials to countries like Sweden, Vietnam, and Cuba that have connections with North Korea, he stated, "It is necessary for the Ministry of Unification to have representatives in Southeast Asian countries that can serve as points of contact with North Korea, such as Sweden, which operates a special envoy to North Korea."
On the issue of damage compensation lawsuits regarding South Korean facilities, such as the Mount Kumgang fire station that North Korea demolished in 2024, Jeong maintained a cautious stance. During the audit, Kim Gun of the People Power Party pointed out that a legal review received by the Ministry of Unification indicated that "preservation measures for the right to claim damages should be taken before the statute of limitations expires, and the most certain method is to file a lawsuit," urging a review of existing policies. In response, Jeong stated, "From a practical standpoint, extending the statute of limitations is more important than filing a lawsuit," adding that securing the statute through measures such as payment notices, publication in the official gazette, and public notification is a priority. He concluded by stating, "Ultimately, we must resolve the issue through dialogue."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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