이낙연 "표현의 자유•가치, 국민 생명•안전보다 우선할 수 없어"

There's been a growing controversy in the international community over a new law in South Korea that bans people from sending anti-regime leaftlets across the border in North Korea - a practice Seoul says could pose risk to those living in the border area.
Today, Seoul's ruling Democratic Party met with the residents of the DMZ area during which leader Lee Nak-yon said freedom of speech cannot take priority over people's safety and that this is a principle shared by the international community.
The residents asked for the leaflet ban to take effect as soon as possible highlighting the fear and inconvenience of living near the DMZ.
Party leaders called for the government to engage in active diplomacy with the U.S. as questions about the leaftlet ban raised by U.S. politicians are due to lack of understanding of the situation near the border.