Questions on national security surround opening of N. Korea-themed bar

The exterior of a North Korea-themed bar in Seoul that has caused controversy.

Bar hangs N. Korean flags and photos of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il 　

An untimely controversy over possible National Security Act violations is emerging amid preparations to open a “North Korean-style bar” in front of Seoul’s Hongik University, complete with North Korean flags and photographs of past leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il.

The bar in question, which was undergoing interior construction as of Sept. 15 in the Seogyo neighborhood of Seoul’s Mapo District, has North Korean propaganda images reminiscent of a street in Pyongyang on its exterior, along with phrases such as “more alcohol for the comrades” and “let us achieve a historic revolution in bar snack processing.” Above the front entrance are a North Korean flag and photographs of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il – which were covered up that day with a blue screen in a possible reflection of the recent controversy.

The debate erupted after news broke that a North Korean-style bar was taking up residence in a site occupied until two months ago by a Japanese pub, with photographs of the building’s exterior shared on online communities and social networking sites. Internet users said the bar’s concept was “interesting,” but questioned whether the display of the North Korean flag and photographs of the Kims might be in violation of the National Security Act.

A North Korean flag and photographs of former North Korean leaders Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il are covered up by blue screens amid a controversy concerning the bar’s potential violation of the National Security Act. (all photos of Seon Dam-eun)

Article 7 of the National Security Act (“Praise, Incitement, etc.”) states that anyone who “praises, incites or propagates the activities of an antigovernment organization [or] a member thereof [. . .] with the knowledge of the fact that it may endanger the existence and security of the State or democratic fundamental order” may face up to seven years in prison.

A 16-year-old female high school student identified by the surname Park said, “I respect freedom of expression, but I think it’s a mistake to use the North Korean flag and photographs of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il to advertise a bar while North Korea’s missile provocations are still going on.”

A 67-year-old surnamed Hong said, “They talk about how South and North are now in a relationship of dialogue, but we’re still definitely in a state of armistice.”

“It’s difficult to accept photographs of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il being hung out in the street for commercial purposes,” Hong argued.

A 25-year-old company employee surnamed Kim visited the Hongik area in person that day to look at the “North Korean-style bar” after seeing images on an online community.

“Even if there aren’t any legal issues, I can only imagine how upsetting it is for North Korean defectors who have come to the South to see portraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il,” Kim said.

An internet user identified as @khyu**** wrote, “We may live in an era where people make jokes about North Korea, but I think people would be upset if you showed images of [former South Korean President] Park Chung-hee’s face as part of a ‘1960s concept.’”

Another identified as @jay_usicfor**** wrote, “If you don’t think there’s any problem with putting up portraits of the Kims and a North Korean flag, then maybe you shouldn’t be pitching jealousy fits if someone puts up a Rising Sun flag and portrait of the Emperor at a Japanese bar.”

Most experts say bar is not in violation of National Security Act

But experts said National Security Act violation charges do not appear applicable in this case. Jung Seung-hwan, a law professor at Korea University, explained, “There’s a difference between putting up a North Korean flag and pictures of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il for publicity and actually having views or intentions to praise or incite North Korea.”

“Given that this appears to be aimed at publicity effects, it seems implausible to claim that there was an intention to praise or incite,” Jung said.

The exterior of a North Korea-themed bar that utilizes propaganda images of the North Korean regime.

Chung Han-joong, a law professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, said, “It looks like the aim here was more promotion than it was praising or inciting pro-North Korea sentiment.”

“It’s unclear whether this could be seen as a violation of the National Security Act,” he said.

The presiding authorities with Mapo District announced on Sept. 10 that they had transferred notification to the security division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency the same day following the receipt of complaints.

“There is nothing about National Security Act violations in the business permit regulations, but we passed the matter on to investigation authorities after reaching the conclusion that this could be in violation of the National Security Act,” a district official said.

By Seon Dam-eun, staff reporter

Please direct comments or questions to [[e-mail]]