SEOUL - A group of South Korean investors renewed their calls for compensation from the government over a long-halted tour program in North Korea. The call for action coincides with the 25th anniversary of the Mount Kumgang tour program's inception. According to statements made at a news conference, the investors are urging the passage of a special bill to recover their losses and for the government to address debts and interest related to the program. They assert that the government's lack of legal groundwork for compensation has led to their current predicament.
According to Yonhap News Agency, The Mount Kumgang program, a once-celebrated symbol of South and North Korean reconciliation, was launched 25 years ago. It attracted over 1.95 million tourists and was a significant source of revenue for North Korea. However, following the 2008 killing of a South Korean tourist by a North Korean guard and subsequent asset seizure by North Korea in 2016, the program came to a halt. The unification ministry, responsible for inter-Korean relations, has deferred this issue to the National Assembly for further discussion.