hankyoreh

a unification movement activist

South Korea has seen in increase in the interception of communications. According to “The present condition of cooperation in communication interception during the first half of 2009” report submitted by the Korea Communication Commission to the National Assembly, communication interception during the first half of this year increased to 799 cases (one case contain several phone numbers) or by 34.4 percent compared to last year. The total number of all phone or email communications interceptions came to 6402.

When examined in detail, the National Security Service was responsible for ordering 706 communications interceptions or the majority of cases that took place during the first half of this year, compared to 562 cases during same period last year. In comparison, the Defense Security Command (DSC) was responsible for 23 cases from 8 cases last year, the police were responsible for 61 cases from 32 cases, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office was responsible for 9 cases from 6 cases.

In addition, the interception of email communications increased sharply to 489 cases from 356 cases last year, and the interception of wireless phone communications also increased to 310 cases from 252 cases.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]