Propaganda criticizes opposition leader

A variety of incidences have been taking place recently around Seoul criticizing the chairman of the opposition Grand National Party and praising North Korea.

According to the police, from Sept. 12 through 14 in 22 districts of Seoul, including the Jung-gu and Sindang-dong areas, about 600 flyers that criticize GNP chairman Lee Hoi-Chang.

About 30 of them were discovered on Sept. 14 in the garden of the Hotel Shilla in the Jung-gu area where Kim Yong-Soon, secretary at the Central Committee of the North Korean Workers Party had been staying. On Sept. 17, more flyers were found in the Seocho area of Seoul praising the North.

Having analyzed the printing method used, the police believe the flyers were printed in the North and carried across in balloons.

"Every April, September and October, North Korea sends such balloons carried propaganda flyers," a source at the police department said. "Actually, the number of flyers really hasn't increased from the past."

roryrery@donga.com