Seoul Ignored Signals, And It Backfired Badly

How could members of organizations ruled illegal for being suspected of holding pro-North Korea ideologies travel to Pyongyang for Liberation Day celebrations as part of a South Korean delegation?

People who registered as members of the National Alliance for Unification represented themselves in Pyongyang as leaders of the banned Pan-Korea Alliance for Reunification. They met with North Korean members of the same organization to discuss their unification plans.

Someone registered simply as a student at Wonkwang University revealed himself as a representative of the banned Hanchongryon student alliance once in Pyongyang.

Several members of the two banned groups joined the National Alliance for Unification when it was established in March and visited the North.

The government must have been aware of their dual allegiances but turned a blind eye, analysts contend, because their aim is to realize the joint declaration signed by the leaders of the two Koreas last year, which is also what the government desires.

"The National Alliance for Unification seems to be a temporary group hurriedly organized by members of banned radical groups in order to visit the North," said Suh Dong-man, a professor at Sangji University. He said the government is responsible for assuming they would act otherwise.

Experts said the ideological polarity in South Korean society stems from objections to the government's North Korea policies, with some supporting and others opposing engagement.

"The more the government pushes inter-Korean dialogue, the deeper the divide will get," one scholar said on condition of anonymity. "The government should reassess its policies."

Some analysts said strict enforcement of existing laws would squelch the conflict, while others said pluralism must be encouraged.

by Oh Young-hwan