North's trash balloons rack up over 26 million won in damage across greater Seoul

A trash-laden balloon assumed to be flown by North Korea landed on a parked vehicle in Ansan, Gyeonggi, on June 2. The balloon cracked a car's front windshield. [NEWS1]

Trash-laden balloons from North Korea resulted in property damage of over 26 million won ($18,824) in the Seoul metropolitan area, according to a lawmaker Sunday.

According to liberal Democratic Party Rep. Yang Bu-nam’s office — working on behalf of the National's Assembly's public administration and security committee — on Sunday, Seoul reported a damage bill of 20.17 million won and Gyeonggi also reported damage of 6.61 million won between May 28 and June 12.

North Korea sent trash balloons seven times from May 28 to Wednesday, prompting city governments to collect damage reports from affected civilians. The lawmaker's information includes the damage incurred from the first to fourth rounds of Pyongyang's balloon launches.

The Seoul city government received 10 damage reports, with the Gyeonggi provincial government receiving four. Of the 14 reports, two cases have not yet had the loss amounts confirmed.

The largest amount of damage received was measured to be 15.72 million won, which occurred in western Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo District on May 29. The trash-laden balloon destroyed the top of a parked vehicle outside a logistics warehouse.

On June 2, a balloon that fell on a car in Yangcheon District, western Seoul, destroyed a car's front windshield and bonnet and caused a loss estimated to be around 1 million to 2 million won.

On the same day, three balloons damaged the roof and ceilings of a residential complex in Bucheon, Gyeonggi. The damage is calculated to be 4.1 million won.

Bucheon also saw damage from an explosive attached to a balloon package. The device operates with a timer, bursting the balloon after a certain period of time has passed.

In one case, however, the explosive set a vehicle on fire and burned the front tire and driver’s seat, causing 1.21 million won in damage, according to city authorities.

In Gyeonggi’s Gimpo, a trash-laden balloon tore the plastic film cover of greenhouse farm, incurring 408,000 won in repair costs.

There are no legal grounds that require the government to compensate for damages caused by trash balloons sent from North Korea.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety, however, said it would cover the damage by using a state fund reserve after the Seoul city and Gyeonggi provincial governments calculate the loss amount.

“As the North’s trash-loaded balloons continuously inflict damage both directly and indirectly to South Koreans, the government and politicians should swiftly prepare solutions to compensate for such losses,” Yang said.

BY LEE SOO-JUNG [lee.soojung1@joongang.co.kr]