South Korea said Monday it will crack down on those who set up memorial altars for the late North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and an activist who flew to Pyongyang to attend his funeral without the government’s permission.

Three students of Seoul National University set up a makeshift memorial for Kim on campus on Monday afternoon, which was removed by university staff about 10 minutes later.

A different group, made up of ex-convicts who have broken the National Security Law, which bans anti-state activities, said they plan to erect a funeral altar for him in the heart of Seoul.

Also in the day, another group revealed that one of its activists flew to Pyongyang, without the permission of the South Korean government, to pay respects to the deceased leader. 

“(The activist) has breached the National Security Law,” a prosecution official said. He added that the prosecution plans to press charges against those who set up the memorials for Kim, viewing their acts as being in violation of the same law.

The law prohibits any activities that praise the communist state or intend to aide it. Also, all trips to North Korea by South Koreans require prior government approval. South Korea remains technically at war with the communist North, because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.

Some far-left groups have claimed that South Korea should allow mourners to visit Pyongyang to offer condolences to North Koreans on the sudden passing of their leader.

“It is right for people in the South to offer condolences on the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il,” the group of ex-convicts said in a statement. “Since the South Korean government has banned mourners from crossing over into the North, we plan to set up a funeral alter in front of Daehanmun (near Seoul City Hall) to allow South Koreans to pay tribute.”

Hwang Hye-ro, a France-based researcher from the leftist Institute of 21st century of Corea Research, entered Pyongyang two days ago to mourn the North Korean leader, Hwang’s colleagues in Seoul said Monday. It was not known yet if she did pay respect to Kim.

South Korea gave permission to only two groups ― a former South Korean first lady and the chairwoman of Hyundai Group ― to attend Kim’s funeral in Pyongyang.

Lee Hee-ho, the 90-year-old widow of late South Korean President Kim Dae-jung, and Hyundai Group Chairwoman Hyun Jeong-eun crossed the heavily fortified border Monday, each leading a small entourage.

North Korea, while saying it welcomes all mourners, blasted South Korea for blocking its people from paying condolences to their leader. It said the South’s attitude toward condolences would affect future inter-Korean relations.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)