Gyeonggi Province Designates 'Danger Zones' Across Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Paju, Gimpo, and Goyang; Issues Administrative Orders

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province, treating the distribution of propaganda leaflets to North Korea as an act threatening residents' lives and safety and announcing a policy of complete prevention, has designated entire areas of five cities and counties in northern Gyeonggi border regions as danger zones, prohibiting the entry of leaflet distributors. This marks the first time danger zones have been designated in connection with the distribution of leaflets to North Korea.

On the 17th, Gyeonggi Province enacted an 'administrative order for danger zone designation and prohibition of activities' and announced that from this day until November 30 of this year, it will designate the entire areas of Yeoncheon County, Pocheon City, Paju City, Gimpo City, and Goyang City—excluding military installations—as danger zones.
The province cited 'disaster prevention through entry control and prohibition of acts by propaganda leaflet distributors' as the reason for establishing the danger zones in its administrative order announcement. It has prohibited entry of relevant personnel involved in distributing propaganda leaflets to North Korea within the danger zones and banned the preparation, transportation, distribution, and use of propaganda leaflets and related materials within these areas.
This administrative order is based on Article 41 (Designation of Danger Zones) of the Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act, and violations will result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

The province previously, on the 12th, defined illegal distribution of propaganda leaflets to North Korea as an act threatening residents' lives and safety and announced three countermeasures: ▲designation of danger zones in certain border areas and prohibition of entry by leaflet distributors ▲prevention and blocking of illegal acts by blocking preparatory activities such as vehicle movement and gas injection prior to propaganda leaflet distribution ▲strong measures including inspections, investigations, and referrals through the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police Unit.
Subsequently, on the 16th, the province held its first task force meeting to prevent propaganda leaflet distribution to North Korea, chaired by Vice Governor Lee Jae-gang and attended by heads of 16 related departments, where it reviewed concrete implementation plans for responding to propaganda leaflet distribution and departmental plans.

The province has currently established an emergency contact network linking cities and counties within the province—such as Gimpo City, Paju City, and Yeoncheon County, where propaganda leaflet distribution has been frequent—and the Gyeonggi Southern and Northern Police Agencies, and is responding with immediate reporting and action upon occurrence of leaflet distribution activities.
As North Korea's military response to propaganda leaflet distribution has become a reality following the explosion of the inter-Korean joint liaison office, the sense of crisis among residents in border areas of Gyeonggi Province has heightened further. Gyeonggi Province recognizes that protecting residents' lives, livelihoods, safety, and peace is its primary responsibility and is committed to doing everything it can at the provincial level to prevent acts of distributing propaganda leaflets to North Korea.

Governor Lee Jae-myung of Gyeonggi Province stated on the 12th through social media: "Recklessly distributing propaganda leaflets to North Korea is a dangerous 'crisis-creating' act that provokes military conflict and escalates tension on the Korean Peninsula, and a 'social disaster'-inducing act that threatens residents' lives and safety. This cannot be tolerated under any circumstances."