The south Korean people strongly oppose the “National Security Law”

 

The south Korean people’s struggle for the total abolition of the NSL, main obstacle to independence, democracy and reunification, has been intensified as days go by. The struggle has been vigorously waged in different parts of south Korea including Seoul, Ulsan, Gwangju and Daegu with various forms such as one million-signature campaign, demonstrations, cultural events and bicycle march.

Sept.11- The Reunification Solidarity issued a statement titled “Let us frustrate the moves of the pro-American conservative and anti-reunification forces to keep the NSL.”

Sept. 14- The Youth and Student Committee of the Headquarters for Promoting Joint National Functions called a press conference in front of the National Assembly building and issued a declaration of youth and students demanding the total abolition of the NSL.

- Lee Seok-tai, head of the Lawyers for Democratic Society issued a statement titled “We criticize the theory of supplementation of the criminal law and substitute legislation to revive the NSL.”

- The Ulsan Citizens Solidarity for the Abolition of the NSL called a press conference in front of the Ulsan city hall and made public an action plan for abrogation of the NSL.

- Thirty six civic organizations including the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, the Green Korea United and the Women for Peace released a joint declaration for the repeal of the NSL.

- The Citizens’ Association for Abolition of the “National Security Law” released a commentary criticizing the move of the GNP to keep the NSL.

Sept. 15- The Citizens’ Association for Abolition of the “National Security Law,” the Christian Solidarity for Justice and Peace and the Hyangrin Church issued a statement urging the government to make a decision for total abrogation of the NSL.

- The Daejeon Citizen Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law was formed.

- The Amnesty International called a press conference in Seoul to demand repeal of the NSL.       

Sept. 16- More than 80 prominent figures of all social standings including Lee Young-hee, former professor at Hanyang University, lawyer Choi Young-do, Rev. Ham Se-woong and chief of the National Institute Paik Gi-wan held a press conference in Seoul, demanding repeal of the NSL. 

- Members of Buddhist organizations including co-representatives of the Buddhist Human Rights Committee Jin Gwan, Ji Weon and Han Sang-beom made public an appeal titled “Let all Buddhists come out to get the National Security Law abolished.”

- A rally for proclaiming the struggle for total abolition of the NSL was held in Busan.

- The chairman of the Uri Party insisted on abolishing the NSL by the end of this year.

- The Democratic Labor Party launched a one million signature campaign for the abolition of the NSL on the street in front of the party building in Yeouido, Seoul.

- More than 80 figures including president of Sangji University Gang Man-gil, former chairman of the Lawyers for Democratic Society Lee Don-myong, representative of the Association for Press Kim Jung-bai and honorary professor at Seoul National University Lee Sang-hee called a press conference to strongly demand the abolition of the NSL. 

- The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, in a press conference held at the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, demanded abrogation of the NSL.

Sept. 17- The South headquarters of the National Alliance of Youth and Students for the Country’s Reunification issued a statement titled “The Grand National Party, stop working to mislead the public opinion about the NSL, the worst evil law.” 

Sept. 18- The one million signature campaign, propaganda activities and all-people grand march for the abolition of the “National Security Law” took place in various parts of south Korea including Seoul under the sponsorship of the People’s Solidarity for the Abolition of the NSL.

Sept. 20- The criminal law-related organizations held a press conference in Seoul to demand abrogation of the NSL.

- Members of the Busan-South Gyeongsang Provincial Area Committee of Struggle in Prison went into a hunger strike in prison, demanding the repeal of the NSL.

Sept. 21 -The Korean Council of Youth Organizations called a press conference in Yeouido, Seoul, expressing its will to vigorously wage the struggle for abolition of the NSL.

Sept 22- Artists held a press conference in Seoul to demand abolition of the NSL and released a declaration.

Sept. 23- The Women’s Action for Abolition of the National Security Law consisting of more than 30 woman organizations called a press conference in front of Myongdong Cathedral, Seoul, demanding total abrogation of the NSL.

- The National Solidarity for Abolition of the National Security Law held a press conference in Seoul to criticize desperate efforts of the Grand National Party to keep the NSL.

- The Council of National Women Student Representatives issued a declaration demanding abolition of the NSL.

Sept. 24- Nineteen organizations of Koreans in the US including the National Federation of Korean Residents in the United States and the American Alliance for Independence, Democracy and Reunification made public a joint statement titled “The National Security Law must be totally abolished.”

- Wanted men of the Gwangju-South Jeolla Provincial Federation of University Student Councils called a press conference and made public a press release titled “Totally abolish the NSL, anti-human rights and anti-reunification evil law, without precondition.”

- A forum under the subject “Total abrogation of the NSL or substitute legislation” was held in Seoul under the co-sponsorship of the Special Committee for the Repeal of the NSL and the Special Committee for Academic Study of the Reunification Solidarity, demanding abolition of the evil law.