Paju City, Full Support for Residents Affected by North Korea's Loudspeaker Propaganda

Emergency Support Including Soundproofing Devices, Health Checkups, and Temporary Housing in Cooperation with Gyeonggi-do

Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City, is visiting residents in the border area who are suffering from noise damage caused by loudspeakers aimed at South Korea to offer comfort.

On the 24th, Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced plans to provide prompt support in cooperation with Gyeonggi Province for residents in the border area suffering from noise damage caused by South Korea-directed loudspeakers.

On the 23rd, Gyeonggi Governor Kim Dong-yeon held a meeting with residents of Daeseong-dong within the Civilian Control Line in Paju City, who are greatly distressed by the noise from North Korea's loudspeakers directed at the South.

At the meeting, the governor instructed measures to alleviate the residents' suffering, including ▲installing soundproof windows and doors in 51 households in Daeseong-dong village ▲deploying health checkup vehicles and a ‘Mind Relief Bus’ to treat hearing loss and depression ▲setting up a resting area and temporary accommodation for residents at the Tanhyeon-myeon Gyeonggi Future Education Campus (formerly English Village). He also directed a review of installing soundproof facilities at Daeseong-dong Elementary School in cooperation with the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.

Paju City announced that it will support resident counseling by deploying a ‘Mind Keeper Bus’ through the Paju Public Health Center and will promptly proceed with the installation of soundproof sashes in cooperation with Gyeonggi Province. They are also consulting to quickly operate the resting area within the Gyeonggi Future Education Campus by identifying the demand for temporary accommodations among residents.

Residents of Daeseong-dong expressed, “We feel reassured as Gyeonggi Province and Paju City are united in providing support for the damage,” and added, “We hope the construction will be completed as soon as possible so that we can at least sleep comfortably at night.”

Kim Kyung-il, Mayor of Paju City, emphasized, “The noise from the South Korea-directed loudspeakers threatens the safety and daily life of Paju citizens. We will spare no effort to ensure housing stability and the right to sleep.” He further stated, “To prevent the distribution of leaflets to the North, which is the source of the loudspeaker broadcasts and the release of trash balloons, we will mobilize all administrative power together with the 520,000 citizens of Paju City to respond.”