Name: South Korea’s media shift: Lifting North Korea ban
Uploaded: 2025-12-19T15:50:45.629Z
Duration: 1 min 15 s
Description: South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung is calling for an end to a ban on North Korean media in the south. He also says former North Korean prisoners who want to go home should be allowed to.

South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung is calling for an end to a ban on North Korean media in the south. He also says former North Korean prisoners who want to go home should be allowed to.

Seoul

South Korea's President Lee Jae-myung has publicly questioned the country's longstanding ban on consuming North Korean media, stating that the law underestimates the judgment of South Korean citizens. Lee suggested that allowing access to such content could help people better understand the reality in North Korea and reconsider the necessity of the ban.

President Lee also addressed the situation of former North Korean prisoners, advocating for those who wish to return home to be allowed to do so. However, he did not specify whether any policy changes would extend to North Korean defectors who regret moving to the South, a group that surveys indicate includes up to 23 percent of defectors.

South Korea’s media shift: Lifting North Korea ban

Consuming North Korean media content in whatever form it might take is strictly banned here in South Korea, and even an online search will take you straight to a warning. On Friday, President Lee Jae-myung said the law belittles the level of consciousness of South Korean citizens and should be changed. I think seeing it would be an opportunity for people to accurately understand the reality of North Korea and realize, wow, things shouldn't be that way, so why keep it blocked? President Lee also said about half a dozen former North Korean prisoners who still want to go home should be allowed to do so. A 95-year-old former prisoner tried and failed after he was intercepted on the southern side of the demilitarized zone. President Lee did not mention whether a potential change in policy might extend to defectors who want to go home. Surveys reveal up to 23 percent of defectors say they regret coming to the South for reasons ranging from the economic to cultural differences, as well as missing family members back home. Jack Barton, Al Jazeera, Seoul.

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