TY - GEN A1 - Kim, Ellie T1 - Freedom and Control: Libraries, Censorship, and the Legacy of Martial Law in South Korea T2 - Themenkreis 1: Demokratie gestalten/ Aus der Geschichte lernen - der Blick nach Osten (26.06.2025, 14:00 - 16:00, Salon Danzig) N2 - On December 3, 2004, President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law, citing the need to eliminate "pro-North Korean anti-state forces." This declaration revived the national trauma of South Korea’s dictatorship era, particularly the suppression of political freedoms, including academic freedom. A key aspect of this repression was the restriction on access to North Korean publications, with readers and possessors branded as “pro-North Korean anti-state forces.” North Korean publications, which offer rare insights into the country’s closed society, are censored by both North Korea and South Korea. North Korea controls the production and distribution of its publications under its authoritarian regime, while South Korea restricts these materials under its National Security Law. Since the Korean War, both countries have defined each other as primary enemies and North Korean publications are classified as "enemy's expressions" in South Korea. Consequently, the possession or distribution of such publications is punishable, even if they are for academic research. Studying North Korea is inherently challenging due to the need for primary sources. The censorship by both states has further hindered access to crucial materials, restricting scholars’ ability to conduct comprehensive research on the country. This presentation will focus on the dual censorship of North Korean publications by both countries, with particular emphasis on South Korea’s censorship practices in light of the current political climate. The implications of these restrictions on academic freedom and the flow of knowledge will be explored, especially regarding the study of North Korea’s internal situation. Y1 - 2025 ER -