Seoul Logistics Center Vehicle Roof Damage Causes Largest Losses
It has been reported that property damage in the Seoul metropolitan area caused by South Korea-directed filth balloons sent by North Korea since the end of May has exceeded 100 million won.
On the morning of June 2nd, a balloon carrying waste sent by North Korea fell onto a passenger car in the parking lot of a villa in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, breaking the windshield. [Image source=Online community capture]
On the 8th, Yonhap News cited data submitted by Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to Yang Bu-nam, a member of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, reporting that the damage in the metropolitan area from May 28, when the North Korean filth balloons began to be released, until August 10, was calculated at 100,528,000 won.
Specifically, Seoul suffered property damage amounting to 79,875,000 won, and Gyeonggi Province had 20,653,000 won in damages. Incheon reported no related damage. The number of reports was 13 in Seoul and 38 in Gyeonggi, totaling 51 cases. Among these, there were also 3 cases where damage amounts were not reported because estimates were still being prepared.
The largest damage occurred at a logistics center in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. On May 29, a filth balloon fell onto a car parked at the logistics center, damaging the car roof and causing property damage of 15,719,000 won. Next was a house in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the roof was damaged by a filth balloon, resulting in 14,850,000 won in property damage. On July 24, a restaurant on Jeongdong-gil in Jung-gu, Seoul, also suffered 11,367,000 won in property damage due to a filth balloon falling on its slate roof.
In Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, on June 27, a filth balloon fell onto a parked vehicle, resulting in 3,928,000 won in hood repair costs. On June 2, in Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province, a balloon rigged to burst after a certain time fell and caused a fire in a car. This resulted in damage worth approximately 1,214,000 won due to scorching of the front wheel and driver's seat.
However, there is currently no legal basis to support damages caused by North Korea's filth balloon releases. In June, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced that even before legal amendments, local governments would promptly support affected residents, and legislation is currently being pursued. Representative Yang stated, "The public is bearing the full burden of damages caused by North Korea's filth balloons," adding, "As long as the distribution of anti-North Korean leaflets continues, North Korea's filth balloon releases may also continue, so measures to restrain this must be prepared."
Meanwhile, North Korea released filth balloons toward South Korea again on the morning of the 8th. This marks the fifth consecutive day since the 4th. Since the end of May, North Korea has released filth balloons a total of 17 times. The first and second balloons contained compost and cigarette butts, but afterward, they sent paper and plastic waste. Recently, they have been sending used PET bottles and other items.
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