The People’s Power Party has proposed a bill to create a basis for compensation for damages caused by the fall of North Korean trash balloons.
Representative Lee Man Hee and Floor Leader Bae Jun Young gathered the proposals of 72 party members on the morning of June 5. They submitted a partial amendment to the Civil Defense Basic Law to the National Assembly’s legislative council.
Lee, who proposed the bill, explained, “The current Civil Defense Basic Law discusses damages and recovery in the event of a civil defense situation, but this case occurred in a non-civil defense situation, so we have established a basis for government cleanup or recovery support measures.”
Recently, as North Korea has been scattering trash balloons en masse toward South Korea, damages from falling objects, including damaged cars, have been occurring all over the country. However, under the current law, there is no legal basis for compensation for damages caused by provocations like trash balloons from North Korea, so the need for a law amendment was reviewed.
The Democratic Party also submitted a partial Civil Defense Basic Law amendment. The Democratic Party plans to create a legal basis for the government and local government bodies to compensate all or part of the damages to the people harmed by enemy infiltration and provocations. This will include the North Korean trash balloons and anti-South Korae leaflets.
The People’s Power Party plans to provide emergency recovery of damaged facilities, quarantine, temporary housing facilities, and provision of necessities, even if a civil defense situation does not occur due to enemy infiltration and provocations set by the presidential decree.
Lee said regarding the issue of retroactive application to damages that occurred before the bill was proposed, “It is a matter that can be discussed at any time.”