Paju City Passes Nation’s First Ordinance to Prevent Distribution of Leaflets Toward North Korea

Paju City in Gyeonggi Province announced on June 30 that the "Paju City Ordinance to Prevent the Distribution of Leaflets Toward North Korea," which aims to ban the act of sending leaflets to North Korea, has been passed by the city council. This marks the first time in South Korea that such a regulation has been enacted at the municipal level.

Paju City Hall view. Provided by Paju City

This ordinance was established in response to recent developments: although South Korea’s military halted loudspeaker broadcasts toward North Korea following President Lee Jaemyung’s directive, and North Korea subsequently stopped its own noise broadcasts toward the South, there are still concerns that groups such as the Families of Abductees and defector organizations may resume sending leaflets to North Korea. Such actions could prompt North Korea to restart its trash and waste balloon launches and resume noise broadcasts directed at the South. The ordinance was enacted to protect the lives and property of Paju citizens from these potential risks.

According to the ordinance, no one is permitted to engage in the act of distributing leaflets toward North Korea if it endangers the lives, physical safety, or property of Paju citizens. The city is required to implement measures to prevent such leaflet distribution in order to safeguard citizens’ lives and property. The ordinance also stipulates that joint patrols between public officials and civilians will monitor areas where leaflet distribution is likely to occur, and that danger zones may be designated if certain conditions are met. The goal is to ensure that the act of distributing leaflets toward North Korea does not take place anywhere within Paju City.

Paju City Mayor Kim Kyoungil stated, "The passage of this ordinance is significant as it demonstrates Paju City’s strong commitment to completely blocking the distribution of leaflets toward North Korea, which escalates tensions between the two Koreas, thereby ensuring that Paju citizens can live safely and peacefully. Furthermore, I believe this ordinance will serve as a foundation supporting the current government’s policy stance, which prioritizes peace on the Korean Peninsula and the safety of the people above all else."