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South Korea's balloon ban targets activists opposing North Korea.

Published On Mon, 07 Jul 2025
Pranav Reddy
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In Pocheon, South Korea, activist Lee Min-bok’s balloon-launching equipment—once used to send anti-Kim Jong-un leaflets across the border—has remained untouched for months. The reason lies in South Korea’s political shift. With the rise of Lee Jae-myung, a centre-left politician, to the presidency, Lee Min-bok and other activists preemptively halted their operations, anticipating stricter control under a government that favors engagement with North Korea.

Lee Jae-myung, a former human rights lawyer, has taken a firm stance against such balloon campaigns, calling for harsh punishment for those who persist in sending materials that anger Pyongyang. Lee Min-bok, now 67, insists his efforts were peaceful and not meant to provoke, but acknowledges the increasing pressure, with police monitoring his movements closely. Instead of launching balloons, he now spends his time writing online posts criticizing the government.

For years, activists—many of them North Korean defectors—have been caught in the complex dynamics between Seoul and Pyongyang. Previous attempts to ban the balloon campaigns were declared unconstitutional, and North Korea retaliated by sending its own balloons filled with trash and excrement. However, with the new administration seeking to reduce tensions, such acts are once again under scrutiny. President Lee, who assumed office in early June, argues that improved ties with North Korea are essential for economic stability. His administration has taken symbolic steps like stopping anti-North broadcasts at the border, even as North Korea’s leadership has hardened its stance by abandoning reunification efforts.

To clamp down on leaflet drops, authorities have discussed deploying police near the border and using existing laws, including aviation regulations, to prosecute activists. In the past year, around 72 cases related to such activities have been investigated, with some already referred to prosecutors. Even foreign nationals have come under investigation, including six Americans who tried to send bottles filled with rice, U.S. currency, and Bibles across the border. The chilling effect is evident. Some activists, who had been quietly sending balloons for years, have paused their missions, fearing government surveillance and legal action. One long-time activist admitted to getting phone calls from officials probing his intentions, while others, like Choi Sung-yong of the Abductees’ Family Union, say they have suspended their operations after being contacted by new government representatives.

Not everyone is opposed to the crackdown. Some residents living near the border say they feel safer now that the balloon launches have slowed. One farmer from Paju shared that people in the area used to live in fear but are now starting to feel a sense of relief. The UN’s human rights office in Seoul has weighed in as well, saying that while freedom of expression is vital, it must be balanced with national security concerns. They expressed hope that South Korea will find a fair and measured approach, noting that previous legal responses may have been overly severe.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.