Governor Lee Jae-myung Orders Emergency Investigation into Group Claiming to Distribute Anti-North Korean Leaflets

[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung ordered an emergency investigation into a group claiming to have distributed anti-North Korean leaflets in Paju on the 22nd.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 24th, Governor Lee instructed the Gyeonggi Provincial Special Judicial Police Unit to "conduct an immediate investigation into the leaflet distribution by related organizations. There is no tolerance for using provincial residents' lives and safety as a means to earn money." As a result, the Special Judicial Police Unit of Gyeonggi Province has begun an internal investigation centering on the representative of the related organization regarding whether the organization violated Gyeonggi Province administrative orders.

Gyeonggi Province issued a "Dangerous Zone Designation and Conduct Prohibition Order" on the 12th, designating all areas of Yeoncheon-gun, Pocheon-si, Paju-si, Gimpo-si, and Goyang-si as dangerous zones excluding military facilities, which remains in effect until November 30 of this year.
With the issuance of the administrative order, entry or exit by those related to anti-North Korean leaflet distribution within the dangerous zone, as well as preparation, transportation, distribution, and use of anti-North Korean leaflets and related materials, are all prohibited.

If the group's leaflet distribution is confirmed as fact, they will become violators of the administrative order by distributing leaflets in Paju-si where the Province's administrative order is in effect. Violators of such administrative orders are subject to criminal indictment by the Special Judicial Police Unit and will face imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won according to Articles 41 (Designation of Dangerous Zones) and 79 (Penalties) of the Disaster and Safety Management Basic Act.

Meanwhile, on the night of the 22nd, Gyeonggi Province requested investigations from the Gyeonggi Northern Police Agency and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency against four anti-North Korean leaflet distribution organizations—Free North Korea Union (Representative Park Sang-hak), Voice of Martyrs (Representative Paul Foley Hyun-suk), Keun Saem (Representative Park Jeong-o), and North Korean Brethren Direct Aid Anti-North Korean Balloon Unit (Representative Lee Min-bok)—on charges of fraud and embezzlement, among other allegations.

Earlier, Governor Lee Jae-myung stated through his response to a Gyeonggi Province Council inquiry on the 22nd: "I will request investigations into the funding sources, usage details, and activity plans of organizations engaging in anti-North Korean leaflet distribution and those threatening to cause harm in resistance to government enforcement actions, conduct inquiries, and hold them accountable."