▲ Kim Yo-jong showed strong hostility against propaganda leaflets

North Korea is showing great antipathy toward propaganda leaflets. Kim Yo-jong, sister of Kim Jong-un as well as First Deputy Director of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of North Korea, had issued radical and insulting proclamations toward South Korea, blaming propaganda leaflets. As an act of revenge for that, North Korea also blew up the South-North Joint Liaison Office on June 16th.

According to such reaction of North Korea, the government and congress are trying to restrict propaganda leaflets. Yoon Hu-duck, a lawmaker of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed a revision to the "Act on Inter-Korean Exchange and Cooperation" on June 22nd, which bans leafleting. He said leafleting is threatening not only the relationship with North Korea but also the safety of residents near the border. The proposal of revision includes prohibiting the use of drone, ultra-light flight system to spray, giving the right to approve anti-North Korea propaganda to the Minister of Unification, and prohibiting the inclusion of currency within propaganda leaflets.

▲ Defectors are arguing their freedom of expression

However, there is also critical to such movements. The antagonist points out the freedom of expression. As a citizen of the Republic of Korea, North Korea defectors also have the right to express their idea. Due to this, there had been several tries to restrict propaganda leaflets before, but every time it faced a confrontation. Kim Tae-kyu, a senior judge at the Busan District Court, mentioned that the response of government not only is an act that violates freedom of expression but also lacks clear legal grounds.

The conflict between the governor and the defectors seem to last quite a while. On June 26th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency searched and seized two leafleting NGOs. It said it was to secure data and see if there is any violation of the law. Despite such interventions, leafleting NGOs are still sending propaganda leaflets unexpectedly. It is unclear how this confrontation would end.

▲ Police searched and seized leafleting NGOs

June 28th, 2020

by Shin Seung-won