The Cold War in Korea - Operation Jilli
Continued
Leaflet 65
This is another leaflet that tells of the wonderful life of a defector. The front has
cartoons of the defector with a wife, a house and money. The text is:
Do you know about the special aid program for the defectors? It was promulgated on
16 April 1962 and is known as legislation 1053.
According to the law
1. You will be paid from 50,000 to 10,000 Won.
2. You will be guaranteed for a job in the South which suits your skills
3. Provide you with a home in priority.
The back of the leaflet depicts an actual defector and all the items he can buy in the
South:
Reunification of relatives in the freedom of the South
In Korea you can buy these with 100,000 Won:
33 Sacks of Rice
50 Modern high class wrist watches
40 High class Radios
3 Television sets
66 Rolls of Wide Cotton Cloth
20 Suits (Jacket and Pants)
5 One-year old cows
Most recently Mr. Yang Joonmyung, one of the defectors from the North met his three
siblings including one older brother and an older sister in a tearful reunion during a
welcome ceremony held in the Seoul City Square.
Leaflet 488
This leaflet features defector Lee Yung-Kwang and tells of his good life. Some of the
text is:
Former member of the People’s Army Lee Yung-Kwang enjoys a hopeful and happy
life that he gained through coming over.
Lee Yung-Kwang at the Namsam Park in Seoul
Yesterday he was a private in the 2nd Battalion, the 123rd regiment, the 47th
Division on the 1st North Korean Army Group…Now he is working at the Seoul Electric
Devices Test Branch of the Korean Power Company.
The Korean Capital of Seoul
Here are many
themes in the hundreds of Jilli leaflets. One of the major themes is the
capital, Seoul. There are literally dozens of leaflets showing the city
shortly after the war and at the present time. They knew North Korea was
told that the south was poor and people lived in ancient buildings, many
without power or water. South Korea wanted to show North Koreans that they
were more modern and living in much better conditions than the people of the
north. I will select a few of the leaflets that tell the story well.
Leaflet 341
This leaflet is
early and compares old Seoul with modern Seoul. The text on the two
photographs on the front are:
SEOUL, AN OLD CITY WITH A NEW FACE
Great cultural assets of our nation have been preserved well. Here
is Namdaemoon Gate.
Vehicles coming and going past high-storied buildings in front of
the Seoul City Ha.
The back has
three photographs. The title and captions are:
SEOUL TODAY.
Twenty years
ago, this street was covered only with shacks. It has changed like this, the
Namaemcon-ro Street.
Even narrow
alleys are flourishing like this, an alley in Myong Dong.
The nicely
paved roads are wide, and Republic of Korea-made vehicles are running on
them, here is the entrance of Eulchi-ro Street in front of the City Hall.
Leaflet 439
This leaflet is
another designed to show the people of North Korea how the Koreans live in
their capital. The photo captions on the front are left to right:
SEOUL HAS CHANGED LIKE THIS
With the
frequent construction of new, high-quality buildings over 10 stories, the
3-4 story buildings have lost their luster.
A flood of cars
in front of Seoul City Hall—as you can see in the photo, many Republic of
Korea citizens own cars.
The photo
captions on the back are left to right:
SEOUL, A SYMBOL OF THE PROSPERING REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Seoul becomes
higher day by day. Shown here are high-storied buildings at Susomun Street.
There are many privately-operated firms, newspaper companies and restaurants
on this street.
The 2nd Han
River Bridge - the gate of Seoul. This bridge, opened in 1966, links
Yongdungpo-gu with Mapo-gu.
Leaflet 512
This leaflet
shows Seoul in 1953 and in 1969. The rebuilding is depicted, and the people
of the north can see the changes quite clearly. The text on
the front is:
Seoul, a symbol of freedom, has a population of almost 5 million.
The whole nation in this land wants lasting peace.
Seoul of 1953.
Today's Seoul
seen from Mt. Nam. At present near the end of May 1969, there are more than
750 buildings which are over five stories high in Seoul.
The text on the
back is:
The Seoul
Changchung-tong (photo, left), which was turned into ashes during the war,
has changed in the right picture. The big dome seen on the right photo is
the Changchung Gym.
THE REHABILITATION OF THE REPUBLC OF KOREA FROM WAR ASHES IS SEEN
EVERYWHERE.
This ends the
Seoul section.
Leaflet 5-65
Leaflet 5-65 depicts long lines of spools of threads at the left and a Korean factory
making cloth at the right. The theme of the leaflet is economic progress in the Republic
of Korea. Some North Korean defectors who evaluated this leaflet did not believe that the
scene was a textile plant in Korea. They thought that it was a factory in some foreign
country.
One defector who did believe said:
I had occasion to see pictures of textile plants in Pyongyang and Kaesong in North
Korea, and therefore was able to make a comparison of the North Korean textile plants and
the South Korean textile plants depicted in the leaflet 5-65. This comparison showed the
South Korean textile plants were more modern and had automated equipment not available in
North Korea. The leaflet served to discredit North Korean propaganda that the South Korean
textile industry was still primitive and not capable of fulfilling the needs of the
people.
The 7th PSYOP Group quotes another defector in their PSYOP Intelligence Notes, 9
July 1968:
This leaflet was very impressive to him, and he believed that it would have been
to other North Koreans because the leaflet theme indirectly exploited a North Korean
vulnerability,, the lack of cloth and clothing. The text of the leaflet, however, was not
concrete. The annual output of cloth in the ROK should have been indicated in the text.
Such words as "In South Korea, everyone can freely purchase a suit for such and such
a price in North Korean currency" should have been given so that the target audience
might know how cheap cloth and clothing were in the ROK. Recently, in North Korea, a cloth
made of the chemical fibre, "nitron," went on sale at stores, but was so
expensive (65 North Korean won per meter) and so rare that average people could hardly
afford to buy it. Nylon materials were also expensive in North Korea. A nylon shirt cost
30 to 40 won. Usually, nylon shirts were out of stock at stores and so those who could
afford to buy one had to make a purchase through a friendly storekeeper by paying
installments in advance of receipt of the merchandise.
The Ulsan Oil Refinery
Leaflet 186
There were a number of leaflets that mentioned the Ulsan oil refinery produced by the
Jilli propagandists. We show four of them in this article. The reason we show them was
that there were apparently many North Korean defectors that decided to go south after
seeing these leaflets. They were very effective.
This leaflet depicts the oil refinery on one side and the text:
The symbol of Korea’s modern industrialization: the Ulsan oil
refinery.
It is the ideal size for a refinery, 1,860,000 square meters and it
produces 5,600 kiloliters of various types of oils every day.
The other side of the leaflet depicts and names of and various forms of transportation
and oil products. The text is:
Liquid gas; oil for cars; oil for jets, cooking oil; oil for ships and oil for
busses and trains.
Since establishment in 1963 in Gyeng-Sang-Nam-Do, the refinery has imported crude
oil from foreign countries and has produced various kinds of oil and gas. Even today, new
discoveries of crude oil are found, and the cost is inexpensive but the expense of
processing it is not. By construction of the refinery in Ulsan, Korea is self-sufficient in
its oil consumption, transportation and industry and exports the surplus.
Leaflet 187
Leaflet 187 depicts the refinery in four photographs on the front and back. The text on
the front is:
Processing the crude oil and even exporting to overseas for the use of industry,
transportation and domestic use. Fully self-sufficient.
The oil refined from Ulsan, Kyungsangnam-do is being sold not only all over Korea
but also overseas.
The text on the back is:
Ulsan refinery
Importing crude oil and processing it to make many oil products.
Leaflet 1-65 – The
Ulsan Refinery
The Jilli booklet says about this leaflet:
This leaflet on the Ulsan Industrial Complex is cited as an example
of the high degree of industrial development in the Republic of Korea.
The text on the front of the leaflet is:
The Korean manufacturing industry is growing day by day.
The splendor of refinery facilities at the Ulsan manufacturing belt
which produces 5,600 kiloliters daily.
The text on the back of the leaflet is:
The newly grandiose oil refinery in the Ulsan industrial zone of
Gyeongsangnam-do seems to symbolize the developing Korean industry, and even
today, 100 loyal employees work together to produce oil.
This Ulsan oil refinery, located on a vast land of 520,000 pyeong,
began construction in March 1963 and was completed in December of the same
year. It produces 5,600 kiloliters of gasoline, diesel kerosene, and heavy
oil every day, meeting the domestic demand for gasoline. Of course, it is
earning a large amount of foreign currency by exporting to foreign
countries.
Recently, we exported about 5,000 kiloliters of gasoline at a
regular rate, earning about $80,000 in foreign currency. In this way, the
Ulsan Oil Refinery, which satisfies domestic demand through self-production,
prevents the consumption of foreign currency, and exports surplus production
to foreign countries, earning double profits, can be said to be living
evidence of Korea's industrial development.
[Note]: A pyeong is a Korean unit of area and floorspace, equal to
36 square Korean feet.
Leaflet 6-65
This leaflet depicts the refinery and a woman using a gas stove with
product produced in the refinery. Many North Koreans found it hard to understand why a
refinery would be built in the Republic of Korea when there were no oil fields beneath the
peninsula. They were shocked to find out that the refinery received raw products from
abroad. In addition, they were told that the refinery represented an investment in the
nation’s future and a way to advance technology and provide fuel to the people
conveniently and economically.
I added these leaflets because it became apparent from reading hundreds of North Korean
classified defector interviews that the idea that South Korea had an oil refinery changed
their minds about the conditions there and pointed out clearly that the North had lied
about the economic condition of the South. I have seen about a dozen defector comments and
quote three here to show how the truth can change a person’s attitude.
I read the text repeatedly and became convinced that the claims about the Ulsan
Refinery made in the leaflet were true and I further reasoned that if this was an
indication of South Korea's industrial potential, then South Korea must certainly possess
a firm foundation for a self-supporting economy.
I accepted the leaflet on the Ulsan Oil Refinery as being true because I had some
knowledge of the existence of an industrial complex at Ulsan City of South Korea. I
obtained this knowledge from a North Korean cartoon attacking the construction of an
industrial center in the city.
I accepted the truth of the leaflet about the Ulsan Oil Refinery. I knew about the
existence of the refinery from North Korean radio broadcasts which asserted that it was
being operated with foreign capital.
The leaflets on the Ulsan Oil Refinery were attacked by North Korean
counterpropaganda. Typical of their claims were:
This was a fledgling attempt at industrialization.
Though masses of unemployed South Korean workers were flocking to Ulsan in search of
jobs there were none and as a result the wives were turning to prostitution and the
children were reduced to begging in the streets.
The oil being produced at Ulsan was being consumed by the rich at the expense of the
poor.
The ends the Ulsan Oil Refinery
section.
Leaflet 8-65
Leaflet 8-65 depicts a modern playground in Republic of Korea. Not only is
the playground clean and safe, but the children at play are all well dressed and healthy.
Both the playground and the dress of the children greatly impressed North Koreans who saw
the leaflets.
A North Korean defector explained:
I thought the facilities of the children's playground shown in the pictures were
better than those in Kaesong City, and I also noticed that the children wore better
clothes than the children in Kaesong. However, this was to be expected since even children
in rural areas in North Korea, were not dressed as well as children in urban areas. The
playground facilities, however, are very impressive and create a favorable reaction among
North Koreans.
Leaflet 180
If you are going to show children at play you might as well talk about the fresh milk
you can produce for them. This leaflet features the milk industry in South Korea, The text
is:
The Greatly Developed South Korean Milk Industry
The manufacture of canned dairy products – Dairy products about
to be distributed
Milk is one of the most important foods for humans and especially supports a healthy
life in young children. The South Korean government and private companies have worked
together to fulfill skyrocketing milk consumption and to produce high-quality milk by
building new factories and increasing the number of milk cows. That is why factories have
been built close to dairy farms in every corner of the country. The dairy industry has
greatly contributed to the income and healthy lifestyle of the South Korean people.
The back of the leaflet depicts healthy children and milk being delivered. The text is:
Korean Children grow Healthy by Drinking Milk
Milk trucks deliver raw milk from farms to the milk factory
The milk factories of South Korea have modern facilities and
scientific engineering for producing milk.
This leaflet was produced because Intelligence determined that North Korea
was building heavy industry at the expense of consumer goods. Much of North Korea got
powdered milk and the people believed that all of South Korea’s consumer goods were
imported. When a panel of North Korean defectors was shown the leaflet they said The
people of North Korea would be surprised that milk was so freely available in South Korea.
They believed that the milk all came from the United States.
Leaflet 178
This leaflet is all about beer. I looked to see if there were any
other leaflets, perhaps about wine or some other drink, but I found none.
So, I have elected to place this just below milk. South Korea’s “OB Beer”
won a gold medal in 1966 for the world’s best beer. They brag about that
win. The leaflet has three photographs on the front and back showing the
beer being made, beer machinery and barrels, people drinking the beer, and
of course, the beer medal. The text on front is:
OUR COUNTRY’S BEER IS
RATED NUMBER 1 IN THE WORLD
Kegs are filled with beer piped through the system.
The “OB Beer” was presented with a Letter of Award and a gold
medal.
The “OB Beer” of the Republic of Korea won the coveted first place
gold award at the 1966 International Food Quality Contest held in Brussels,
Belgium. The Republic of Korea is the first country in Asia to win the
award.
In South Korea, breweries including Chosun and Oriental breweries
have modern faciltied to produce large quantities of tasty beverages not
only for the people of South Korea, but also as their contribution to the
promotion of overseas export activity.
South Korean laborers are shown enjoying their beer at a local beer
hall.
The text on the back of the leaflet is:
A scene of a brewery company’s laboratory. As a means of protecting
the health of the people, all beer produced in the Republic of Korea is
thoroughly examined and tested prior to the distribution to stores and
restaurant for sale to the public.
Modern machinery is involved in the bottling and crating operation.
Carefulness, caution, and strict inspection guarantees successful production
of beer.
Leaflet 13-65
Leaflet 13-65 depicts modern colleges and universities in the Republic of Korea. North
Korea had stated that education was limited in the south and only two or three poorly
equipped and supported schools existed. This leaflet points out that there are many
learning centers in the South and they are well supported and highly accredited.
The text on side one and two is:
Panoramic view of school buildings at Ewha Woman’s University, the
proud main hall of Korean women.
Part of the school buildings at Pusan National University.
Some school buildings at Korea University.
The Main building of Sogang University (Seoul).
Can there be freedom of learning under the nationalized education
system as under the communist regime of North Korea?
Panoramic view of Yonsei Uni, newly made by the merger of Yonhui
Uni and Severance Medical.
Part of Kyung Hee Uni's school building (Seoul).
Panoramic view of Seoul National University's College of
Engineering.
Leaflet 17-65
Radio leaflets were dropped as part of Operation Jilli against the communist regime of North
Korea. The leaflets were first passed out as handbills along the DMZ, and were later
adapted to be dropped by air.
At least two Cold War radio leaflets were dropped on North Korea during the Jilli
program. The first is coded 17-65 and the second is coded 23-65. They were identical
except for some minor changes in their lay-out. The front depicts a South Korean radio
with dials and a list of the stations. The radio is blue, which is a way of saying that it
is a better choice. The text is:
These are the stations available in South Korea.
(A list of 10 AM, FM and shortwave stations follow in either two or three vertical
columns)
Is everyone able to listen to any of the stations?
There is a North Korean radio on the back with no tuning dial. It is a drab color grey
to show that it is lacking in technology. The text is:
Does everyone get to hear the station they want to hear? Do you want to listen to
South Korea? What if everyone who wanted to listen to the radio station were not able to .
. .
What is the dial on the radio for?
An interrogator questioning a defector stated:
This leaflet, according to the source, was a great help to him in selecting South
Korean radio frequencies. He suggested that South Korean radio news program schedules
should have been also supplied in the leaflet. Almost all defectors want more details in
leaflets. This fact is taken into account when preparing leaflets but the space is too
limited.
Other radio
leaflets such as 217 dated April 13, 1967, told the North about Radio
production and diffusion in the ROK. The message of that leaflet was:
IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA ALMOST EVERY HOUSEHOLD HAS A RADIO
Republic of
Korea stores sell goods in monthly installations. Buyers pay a small amount
of money every month for commodities given to them in advance. The
installation system enables people to easily buy the high-quality goods they
want. In the Republic of Korea, radios are found in almost every
household because they are inexpensive; they are also sold by monthly
installations. (Photo, right) This electrical appliances store mainly sells
electric phonographs, radio sets, television sets, electric fans,
telephones, and refrigerators.
There are more
than ten large radio manufacturing factories in the Republic of Korea. Radio
manufacturing factories produce a large quantity of radios that are of good
quality and work well for a long time. They are also sold at reasonable
prices, since the high quality of Republic of Korea -made radios are widely
recognized around the world and purchased by many foreign countries. Current
production is expanding at an annual rate of 41.6 percent. In the Republic
of Korea there are more than ten large and well-known radio manufacturing
factories, including Gold Star, Samyang, Chun-uo, Namsung, Dongnam, Ideal,
Korea Mobile, and Central Industry.
Justification for Radio leaflets
We will
sometimes read critiques of Jilli leaflets by North Korean defectors or
POWs. However, the Jilli crew often critiqued their own leaflets to see how
they were perceived by the enemy. Here they explain the reason for printing
radio leaflets as a theme. I have edited this critique for brevity.
Rationale and
Panel Test Results for leaflet theme is based on the following thesis:
a. As of
October 1966, there were some 1,107,526 private radio receivers in use
throughout the ROK, or 1 radio to every 30 people. Presently, there are
about 35 radio stations, both government and commercial, broadcasting a
great variety of programs to the ROK audience.
b. Most North
Korean defectors have stated that public access to radio receivers was
generally quite limited. Prices of sets are normally quite high, radios must
be registered with the North Korean government Communications branch, and
usually only those in power in the party are authorized to have radio
receivers that are not fixed on the North Korean frequency.
c. Further, the
public was restricted to listening solely to those programs that originated
in North Korea, and in some cases, radio receivers were fixed to block out
all but those frequencies that are used in North Korea. All radio stations
in North Korea are under government control, and where radio receivers are
not available to the public, wired speaker systems were used to present
government-sponsored programs to a limited number of listeners. Even these
speakers are so expensive that they are usually out of financial reach of
the average North Korean.
d. The standard
of living in North Korea, however, has improved to a considerable extent
since the Korean Armistice. During the years immediately following the
ceasefire, a shortage of food and clothing was an urgent problem and the
most serious threat to the communist regime and its people. As has been
revealed by many North Korean defectors, during this period the North Korean
people went through the severest hardships of their lives. They were
compelled to work 14 to 16 hours a day. What's more, they had to survive
starvation and freezing winter weather
Today, living
is not as hard as it was during that period, though the food problem
continues to be serious enough to keep the rationing system in the North
running. Types of consumer items, for instance, have increased, and the
quality seems to be improving little by little. Radio, sewing machines,
electric irons, and electric fans are produced in the North today. All these
products, except for electric fans, are distributed to state-run stores, the
only places where North Koreans can purchase consumer items. Electric fans
are distributed only to offices of Communist government agencies, party
organizations, and state-run factories. The quantity of these electrical
appliances and sewing machines is not only strictly limited, but the prices
are so high that the average worker can hardly afford to buy them. Yet the
average worker can buy a radio in one or two years if he saves money for
that purpose. Although this still sounds miserable, it is something the
North Korean people could not even imagine ten years ago.
Isolated in
communications from the free world, the North Korean target audience is
given only distorted information about the ROK. This proposed leaflet layout
was panel tested with three former North Koreans who are presently being
detained at EUSA Enclosure #1. The panel members stated that the leaflet
would be effective on the target audience, and they recommend the use of
it.
This leaflet
layout is designed to show the mass-production of radios and their wide
diffusion in the ROK and to prove the freedom of radio listening enjoyed by
the ROK people. The leaflet would also serve to support the credibility of
our previous leaflets on the related subjects.
Leaflet 315
Speaking of
radio, here is a Jilli leaflet that is a defector’s letter to a Pyongyang
radio station. The front of the leaflet is addressed to:
Chong Sin-mo
Pyongyang
Number 2 Broadcasting Service
The back depicts a picture of the defector and a brief message. The
text is:
At a Welcome for Southward Border-Crossing Soldiers - 16 September 1967
Dear Sin-mo,
You must be
working hard taking care of our parents. On 15 August 1967 I came to the
embrace of our Fatherland’s free Korea that I had ever longed for. I
received a lot of money and goods from the Republic of Korea government and
a job at the Railroad Administration, so I live a happy and rich life.
Sin-mo, let’s promise that we will do our best for our fatherland, you in
the north and me in the south, so that we can meet again when our country is
unified. I wish you good health. Please take care of yourself.
Yours
sincerely,
from Chong
Sin-hwa
Note: This
leaflet is in the form of a letter from an older brother who defected to
South Korea in August 1967, to his younger brother at Pyongyang
Broadcasting. The image of the stamp is a South Korean one, so, if real,
this letter could never have been delivered to its recipient.
This is one of four leaflets coded 315-318, all of which are in the form
of defector letters back to friends or acquaintances in North Korea.
Chung Shin-wa
Leaflet 18-65
/ Also coded 33
This leaflet depicts South Korean soldiers with their girlfriends or wives and their
families. The text is:
Under the freedom of speech…
When do you expect to enjoy the delectable meal like this?
Halfway up the Mt. Namsan of Seoul.
The nation prospers and the love matures.
The back of the leaflet depicts three photographs of soldiers on leave. The text is:
A Korean soldier on Furlough
In the dining car bound for home
Soldiers of the South are given 25 days of furlough a year. In addition to this, 20
days of leave are allowed during farming season and 10 days extra leave upon request.
North Korean military defectors were questioned about this leaflet. One said:
I saw the leaflet concerning South Korean soldiers on leave. I did not accept the
credibility of the leaflet because I thought that even North Korean Army officers could
not afford to lead such a gay life, much less South Korean Army soldiers. Rather, I
believed that these leaflets had been photographed for the sake of propaganda purposes. I
and my fellows did know that the South Korean Army had a leave system for its soldiers.
One of the men that dropped it told me that he had heard:
This is one of the leaflets the north turned against the south. It shows a woman
with her slip showing, she’s wearing a watch as well as the soldier, sitting in front
of a TV. Another frame shows her in a nightgown in front of a stereo. A couple more frames
showing her in western clothes. The north countered with statements like “see, they
turn all women into prostitutes”, or “see, they are denied their culture”.
The same leaflet was also printed in legal size or larger and was handed out along the DMZ
to soldiers.
One of the men that printed the leaflet told me:
We were well aware of the modesty of Korean women. During the war when Chinese and
Korean females were used to carry supplies to the front there were cases when they came
upon deep rapidly moving streams The Chinese women would strip and carry the supplies
across with no clothes on. The more modest Korean women would try to cross fully clothed
and in some cases drown. We were careful not to print any salacious photographs of Korean
women.
Leaflet 62
Continuing
with leaflets that showed the good life of those in the South Korean
military we see leaflet 62. The images are mostly of the young soldier going
about town with his girlfriend. He has complete freedom to go where he likes
without being watched or harassed. He makes military life look very
inviting. The text on the front and back is:
The Republic of Korea Army enjoys 25 days of vacation time each
year.
Your family will be waiting for you, too.
Enjoy your vacation time!
Happy people enjoying liberty & peace.
"Will he have arrived back at base by now?"
Note: South
Korean propaganda often points out that the North Korean soldier rarely gets
leave. This simple scene of a South Korean soldier enjoying time off with
his girlfriend was probably very difficult for the Northern soldier to see.
Poster 19-65
This two-sided Jilli poster has many of the same photos we see on
the two leaflets above, leaflet 18-65 and leaflet 62, and one below coded
119. The poster is 17 x 22-inches. It is odd to see it printed on both sides
because usually a poster is on placed on a wall or wooden board where only
one side is visible. Perhaps this was placed into glass frames where both
sides could be seen. The comments on the front are:
Leave time is fun.
Do you know that the only army in the world that doesn’t give leave
is the
[Korean] People's Army?
Free South Korea has been transformed; now it’s like this.
Yesterday we watched Chunhyangjeon, so how about today? *
Are
you going to waste your youth in vain? This country is flourishing and love
is ripening.
Atop Seoul's Namsan Mountain.
The text on the back is:
Leave time.
The people are happy living rewarding lives.
A dining car connected to a holiday train heading home.
“Oh my! He got home this morning. I'll go home this evening.”
Can you eat bulgogi like this? **
In a free press, I can see newspapers, movies, and advertisements.
How happy would your mother be if you could go home on leave?
The
ROK army gives 25 days of regular leave a year, as well as 20 days of
farming leave and 10 days of special request leave.
*
A Korean folk tale and love story.
**
Korean BBQ beef, a standard dish.
Leaflet 64
Many of the Jilli leaflets have a small candle holder where the code number is placed.
I added this leaflet because it is partially in blue while most of the Jilli leaflets are
in plain black and white. The front of the leaflet depicts a modern South Korean hospital
and the text:
Modern Medical Science in Korea
In Korea there are many medical facilities both public and private all over the
country. Catholic Hospital in Seoul has six affiliated hospitals in such places as
Eujungbu and Boopyung. The building in the picture houses the Catholic medical school
affiliated with the Catholic Hospital. It accommodates 330 patients who are taken care of
by 143 carefully selected doctors of different specialties and 96 nurses. Each doctor is
assigned to two patients. This hospital employs just as many doctors and other medical
support teams as any other hospital of the same size.
The back of the leaflet features four photographs of doctors and technicians working
and treating patients. The text is:
Under our free economic system, the health and welfare of the patients are
individually taken care of.
Operating room
X-Ray room
Pediatric area
Dentistry
We should also mention that in the 1960s the United States was
involved in a secret operation called JILLI (Truth) to leaflet North Korea.
As part of this operation the 7th PSYOP Group sometimes dropped leaflets on
North Korea that told them of how South Korea was helping the Republic of
Vietnam defend itself against the North Vietnamese, Russia, and China.
Jilli tells the North Koreans that South Korea is fighting
Communism in Vietnam.
The next nine leaflets are part of a campaign to tell North Korea how their
brothers in the South are helping South Vietnam fight the Communist invasion
from the North. I just selected these nine from about a dozen leaflets in
all.
The South Koreans in Vietnam leaflets seem to start at about
203 and end in the 250s.
Leaflet 203
On one side of this leaflet, we see Vietnamese women placing flower lei
necklaces around the necks of Korean soldiers and welcoming those
arriving on trucks. The other side is all text. The message on the front
is:
The free nations of the world have come forward to assist the
people of
South Vietnam in their pursuit of crushing aggression and achieving
peace.
With the absolute support of the entire Korean people, the Korean
military has deployed its forces to South Vietnam to defend freedom and
peace and to realize justice. In the face of the powerful combat
capabilities of the Korean military, which are supporting the peace
efforts of the people of South Vietnam, any form of aggression is being
unequivocally crushed. In the Vietnam War, the Korean military is
enhancing its reputation as the guardian of freedom in Asia through its
dedicated combat power and sincere service to the people, aimed at
crushing aggression and promoting peace.
With the absolute support of the Korean people, Korea deploys to
South Vietnam.
The text on the other side is:
The responsibility for the outbreak of the Vietnam War lies
entirely with the northern invaders of South Vietnam.
At the formal request of the government of South Vietnam, the Republic
of Korea has dispatched a portion of its armed forces, including
construction and medical support units, to South Vietnam through a
democratic process of parliamentary approval. The decision made by the
National Assembly, the representative body of the Korean people, is
aimed at safeguarding the freedom and peace of South Vietnam and
ensuring the collective security of Asia.
Many free nations from Asia, Europe, and the Americas are courageously
assisting the people of South Vietnam in their fight against communist
aggression. The free nations of the world are sparing no effort in
providing military support as well as construction, medical,
technological, and economic assistance. Korea is standing shoulder to
shoulder with various free nations of the world in the effort to swiftly
end the war and restore peace to Vietnam. The free world nations
participating in the Vietnam War are vigorously continuing peace
efforts. The Korean military will honorably withdraw from Vietnam when
peace is restored, and the people of Vietnam can build their future
without interference from communist forces in North Vietnam.
Leaflet 204
This leaflet has images on both sides. On both sides we see a military
MEDCAP with soldiers treating the Vietnamese sick and injured. A total
of for pictures in all. The text on the front and back is:
The Korean military demonstrates the world-class level of
Korean medicine through medical activities for the people of South
Vietnam.
Many South Vietnamese people greatly benefit from medical assistance
provided by the Korean military. The medical activities of the Korean
military, along with all other relief efforts for the South Vietnamese
people, strongly support the significance of Korea's participation in
the Vietnam War.
The South Vietnamese people receiving treatment from the Korean
military.
The text on the back is:
The fraternal bond between the Southern Vietnamese people and the
South Korean military is strengthening.
Wherever the Korean military goes, the Vietnamese people always follow.
The Korean military compassionately tends to the Southern Vietnamese
people who suffer from malignant tropical diseases and are scarred by
the communist invasion. Since their participation in the Vietnam War,
the Korean military has been treating an average of 2,000 Vietnamese
people each day. Through these actions, the Korean military receives
infinite gratitude and deep respect from them.
The medical activities of the Korean military.
Even on the roads, the Korean military provides medical assistance
to Vietnamese people.
Leaflet 206
This small 6 x 2.5-inches leaflet was disseminated on 19 April 1967. The
front Shows Vietnamese school children in a Classroom built by the Korean
soldiers. The images on the back are Korean troops giving food saved from
their rations to the Vietnamese, and an old man who was given a bottle of
Korean Ginseng whisky by the Koreans. The text on the front is:
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA FORCES HELP THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH
VIETNAM AS THEY WOULD THEIR OWN KIN.
The
Republic of Korea, who are even assisting the daily life of the people, are
participating in an honorable war that aims at restoring and strengthening
the peace in South Vietnam.
The
people of South Vietnam deeply appreciate the care and kindness that the
Republic of Korea forces are showing them.
This
classroom for Vietnamese children was built by the Republic of Korea Army
Engineer Corps.
The text on the back is:
THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH VIETNAM MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONS AND COOPERATE
WITH THE
REPUBLIC OF KOREA FORCES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO RESTORE PEACE IN
SOUTH VIETNAM.
The Republic of Korea forces enthusiastically support the South Vietnamese
people who are struggling to bring the war to an early end and to- restore
peace. The people of South Vietnam oppose the communist policy of aggression
which disrupts their life with deceptive maneuvers and denies them peace
under the cloak of the "South Vietnamese National Liberation Front." They
maintain a firm relationship with the allied forces of the free world
including the Republic of Korea forces and give them their all-out support.
An
old South Vietnamese man marvels at the ginseng-whisky presented by the
Republic of Korea forces.
Republic of Korea troops prepare to distribute food saved from their own
rations to the South Vietnamese,
Jilli Leaflet 207
This leaflet depicts some soldiers with Vietnamese civilians. The Jilli
leaflet explains that the South Koreans are helping the Vietnamese in their
fight for freedom. The text on this leaflet is written in the more classic
northern style. The text is:
The Korean Army puts the most effort for the protection and support
of the Vietnamese.
Countries of the free world including South Korea are engaged in the Vietnam
War for the freedom of Vietnamese and the collective protection of Asia. The
Korean Army looks after the Vietnamese children as they safely study.
Sometimes school supplies are provided to them.
South Vietnamese women who are fighting against the communist aggression
exchange a friendly “Hello” with a Korean soldier.
The back shows more scenes of the Korean soldiers doing civic
action projects and the title:
Polite and humane civic activities of the Republic of Korea
soldiers gained a deep respect from the Vietnamese people.
A party sponsored by the Korean army for elderly Vietnamese
citizens.
Medical services, construction projects and other support from the Korean
army for the South Vietnamese further strengthen the relationship between
the two countries. As seen here, South Vietnamese elders enjoy themselves at
the senior’s party hosted by the Korean army.
Note: North Korea usually claimed that the South Koreans were nothing but
puppets helping the "American Imperialists" invading and oppressing the
South Vietnamese people. This leaflet might have been a rebuttal, showing
the northerners that the South Koreas were doing valuable work helping
workers and farmers.
I
don’t illustrate leaflets 227 and 228 but my files say that they were tested
by a panel of experts and scored about the same as leaflet 230 depicted
further down in this article.
Leaflet 208
This small 6 x 2.5-inches leaflet was dropped on 14 March 1968. The front
depicts a group of Vietnamese elders at a party and the back shows a group
of orphans being hosted by the Vietnamese Marines. The text on the front
is:
"We
are very happy and grateful, " said the Vietnamese elders at a party
sponsored by the ROK troops, "That the Republic of Korea troops support us
and fight for us."
The text on the back is:
Even
among the children of South Vietnam can be seen the fact that the people of
South Vietnam are following the ROK troops as if they were their own kin or
their fellow-countrymen.
This is because orphans are happy to see these ROK marine visitors.
Leaflet 230
This 6 x 2.5-inch leaflet dated 25 August 1967 mentions The Korean Marines
helping the South Vietnamese fight the atrocities of the North Vietnamese
aggressors. The front of the leaflet depicts some boys running on a bridge
the Republic of Korea troops built. The back shows The Vietnamese people
welcoming the Koreas and the Koreas doing construction work for the South
Vietnamese. The text on the front is:
Republic of Korea troops helping South Vietnam.
Republic of Korea troops are exerting efforts for peace in South
Vietnam.
The
purpose of the Republic of Korea troops coming to South Vietnam is to resist
the North the North Vietnamese aggressors, who keep committing atrocities,
and to help the South Vietnamese people, who eagerly desire peace,
accomplish their economic reconstruction plan.
The ROK troops are welcomed and praised by the South Vietnamese
people for joining them in various construction and welfare projects.
South Vietnamese boys running on the Arirang bridge, which was constructed
by the Republic of Korea Army Bidulgi ("Dove") unit.
The text on the back is:
Republic of Korea troops are supporting the Vietnamese
people in all kinds of construction work.
Vietnamese people heartily welcoming ROK troops.
Republic of Korea troops engaged in a road construction project. The road will
run from Diahn to Lai Tiu, seven kilometers.
Leaflet 250
This is one of the larger leaflets measuring 8.5 x 2.75-inches. The front
shows a Korean solider teaching the Korean language to Vietnamese and a town
hall built by the Korean troops for the local people. The back depicts
various activities of the Korean soldiers. The text on the front is:
POWERFUL REPUBLIC OF KOREA FORCES REPEL NORTH VIETNAMESE AGGRESSORS
AND WORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOUTH VIETNAM.
A
Republic of Korea soldier teaching the Korean language to some South
Vietnamese children in a South Vietnamese village. A campaign of promoting
better understanding of the Republic of Korea is widely carried out among
the South Vietnamese people.
The
Republic of Korea troops have constructed many public halls for old
Vietnamese people. This picture was taken at the completion ceremony of a
public hall, which was constructed by the Republic of Korea troops.
The text on the back is:
ACTIVITIES OF REPUBLIC OF KOREA TROOPS IN SOUTH VIETNAM.
Republic of Korea troops are constructing a bridge at Lai Thieu. The South
Vietnamese people highly praise the Republic of Korea troops and trust
them.
Soldiers of a Republic of Korea Marine artillery unit distributing rice
among rural development workers in Dong Thai, a South Vietnamese village.
Republic of Korea troops even help the Vietnamese harvest crops.
Communist troops continue to defect to Republic of Korea troops. Defectors
disclose that they were ordered by Ho Chi Minh to infiltrate into South
Vietnam. They pledged to endeavor for the reconstruction of South Vietnam.
Note: North Korea usually claimed that the South Koreans were nothing but puppets
helping the "American Imperialists" invading and oppressing the South Vietnamese
people. This leaflet might have been a rebuttal, showing the northerners that the South
Koreas were doing valuable work helping workers and farmers.
Many of the
leaflets in the 200s show military troops. Vietnam seems a popular subject.
Many of the leaflets are smaller and crowded with text and that makes them
less interesting for displaying. I did find two cartoon leaflets which we
show further below.
Leaflet 257
To be honest,
I just added this leaflet because it is an oddity with the front printed all
in green. The front depicts Korean soldiers helping a Vietnamese civilian
with a medical problem, helping in the field, and giving a child a haircut.
The Koreans are depicted as friendly and helpful. The text is:
Through the
Korean military's civil-military cooperation project, the friendship between
South Korea and Vietnam is further strengthened.
In addition to
their ongoing efforts to repel communist aggressors and restore freedom and
peace to Vietnam, the Korean military also takes care of the daily
difficulties faced by the Vietnamese people. The Vietnamese people are
deeply impressed by the sincere and warm civil-military cooperation efforts
of the Korean military. They have formed strong bonds with the Korean
military, opposing communist aggression and steadfastly struggling against
it.
The Korean
military provides mobile medical clinics for check-ups to the people of
Vietnam, taking care of the hygiene of both Vietnamese and Korean people.
Korea is also giving haircuts to the young children in South Vietnam.
The back of
the leaflet is in the standard black and white. It has three photographs of
Korean troops working with and even building for the Vietnamese. The text
is:
The Korean
military is lending a helping hand to the busy workers of Vietnam.
The Korean
military is contributing to the development of South Vietnam through various
construction projects.
Korea, along
with several free world nations that participated in the Vietnam War, is
working to revive South Vietnam and make efforts to ensure that the
Vietnamese people who are struggling against communist aggression policies
can live happily in freedom and peace. The Korean military is providing
enthusiastic civil-military activities such as medical services,
construction support, and relief efforts for the people of South Vietnam,
thereby providing strength and courage to the efforts of the Vietnamese
people to achieve peace.
The Korean
military engineering unit at the left constructed a hospital for the people
of South Vietnam.
In the center
picture the Korean military unit-built houses for the people of South
Vietnam who had lost their homes and were wandering due to the destructive
Communist invaders.
The Korean
military's construction projects for the revival of South Vietnam are
ongoing.
Leaflet 295
Another
leaflet showing the South Koreans helping the South Vietnamese during the
war. It almost seems like the Jilli people are "rubbing it in." The front of
the leaflet depicts a crowd of Vietnamese cheering the arrival of the Korean
troops. The back features the Koreans helping the Vietnamese with the
harvest and treating a young Vietnamese boy.
The text on
the front of the leaflet is:
THE VIETNAMESE WELCOME NEW TROOPS ENTHUSIASTICALLY
South Vietnamese people of the Di-an area welcoming the
Korean troops who have come to repel the Communist aggressors.
The text on
the back of the leaflet is:
Republic of Korea troops helping with the South Vietnam harvest.
Republic of Korea medics treating a South Vietnamese boy.
THE VIETNAMESE PEOPLE DEEPLY APPRECIATE THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
TROOPS’ CIVIC ACTION
Through their
various types of civic actions, the Korean troops give courage and hope to
the South Vietnamese people who are suffering from Communist aggression.
Denouncing the Communist aggressors' despoilation and destruction, the
Vietnamese people fully cooperate with the Korean troops in fighting against
the Communist aggressors and striving for the restoration of peace in
Vietnam.
The so-called
National Liberation Front troops used to steal food from the Vietnamese
farmers, but now they can harvest without the threat of looting under the
protection of Korean troops.
The ends the section on Jilli leaflets telling North Korea about
South Korea’s actions to help the Republic of Vietnam survive
against aggression.
The comments about the use of the tuning dial and the ability to listen to different
radio stations is probably in regard to the North Korean system of having the owner take
the radio to the local post office where it is tuned to a North Korean station, and then
"fixed" so that the station cannot be changed. It is rumored that some handy
radio owners have found ways of tampering with the "fix," so that they could
tune to radio stations in the south.
77-65
Leaflet 77-65 depicts a modern butcher shop on the front. Earlier leaflets had
depicted fruits and vegetables but defectors had stated that they were available in North
Korea and thus not influential propaganda. However, meat was scarce, and the concept that
an average South Korean could walk into a store and purchase meat was very impressive.
North Koreans were also impressed by the refrigerated display case and the modern meat
cutting machines. One complaint by North Korean defectors who evaluated the leaflet was
that the cost of the meat should have been displayed on the leaflet. Meat was so expensive
in the North that the average person could not afford the price. By constant evaluation,
the Jilli leaflets were regularly improved.
The text is:
In South Korea, anyone can buy meat any time he desires.
The back of the leaflet depicts a fruit and vegetable stand and shoppers of fresh food
on the streets. The text is:
Fruit and Vegetables
When was the last time you ate fruit?
Commodities abound in the markets of the South and the prices are
very low.
81-65
Leaflet 81-65 depicts scenes of a destroyed Seoul at the left and the same area
rebuilt at the right. The theme is rehabilitation and progress in South Korea. North
Koreas were told that the people of the South were living in poverty among the ruins and
devastation of the war. They were shocked to see that the cities had been rebuilt and the
people had a high standard of living.
Two North Korean defectors stated:
While in the vicinity of my aunt's home, I saw South Korean leaflets for the first
time. I was very favorably impressed by the leaflets, particularly those with scenes of
streets in Seoul. The leaflets convinced me that I, too, could lead a happy life in such
an environment and that I, therefore, should defect
I saw a leaflet on rehabilitation of Seoul and I never imagined Seoul had recovered
from its war destruction. From this leaflet, I was convinced that South Korea was a
wealthy and powerful nation and that the people undoubtedly could live better than North
Korean people.
84-65
Leaflet 84-65 depicts a group of cars in traffic at the left, and cars on a
production line in a South Korean factory at the right. The theme of the leaflet is modern
industry and automotive production. North Koreans found it hard to believe that South
Koreans actually possessed such cars. The streets of North Korea were empty. Some of the
text is:
Automobiles will soon become a daily necessity in South Korea.
A North Korean defector said about this leaflet:
I was impressed by the leaflet on the automobile industry because I had previously
believed that South Korea was incapable of producing automobiles. I was particularly
impressed by the scene of automobiles on the streets and the caption “Automobiles
soon will become a daily necessity in South Korea.” When I visited Wonsan City in
September, busses were running ten to twenty minutes late.
111-66
Leaflet 111-66 depicts the streets of South Korea crowded with both commercial and
private traffic. The text is:
The Southern half of Korea has been progressing under the National Flag of Korea.
Dear northern brothers and sisters!
When are you going to live in a free and developed city like this?
Taepyong-Ro Street , Seoul
The back depicts another street with traffic and a message next to a symbol of a
burning candle. In Western culture the candle would indicate the bringing of light and
knowledge in the dark. The text is:
There will be endless enlightenment and good fortune in our Korean people's
future.
South Korea's picture of development and a busy modern city can be
seen in front of the Seoul CentralGovernment Building at Guanghwa-Moon Street.
Leaflet 116
This leaflet also depicts the busy streets of South Korea on both the front and back.
The text on the front of this leaflet is:
Taepyungro Street
Brothers in the North!
When do you think you can live in modern free cities like this?
The text on the back is:
The growth of South Korea, home and abroad, is manifested on
Kwanghwamoon Street in front of the government building.
God bless the future of our people!
Love and Marriage
South Korea Offers Both
Leaflet 66
This leaflet depicts an old fashioned traditional Korean wedding ceremony at the
left and the cold official Communist signing of the marriage document at the right.
Once again the back depicts the symbol of a burning candle and the text:
The traditional marriage ceremonies are performed earnestly in front of parents
as in the past, but the North Korean Communist Government is interfering with the
marriages now.
Leaflet 190
This leaflet also discusses marriage but shows that even Communist spies who come South
and are caught can lead respectable lives and find love. The text is:
Wedding day of Mr. Ogiwan who is a former spy from the North
Tying the knot at the wedding ceremony in front of the wedding officer where friends
and relatives from Gangsu-goon gathered.
With the wedding officer after the ceremony.
The text on the back is:
The Story of a Spy
The South Korean government guarantees the safety of defectors and their guides and
supports them by finding them a decent living and fine job.
Mr. Ogiwan who defected to the South after being dispatched by the North was
employed by the Research Institute of Asia when he met a beautiful maiden named Ms. Kim
Sonae and married her. Mr. Oh graduated from Kim Il-sung University and studied in the
Akmaata University of Russia. Until he was sent to the South he worked as a manager in the
Department of Agriculture.
As soon as he was sent to the South he defected and ever since he is working as a
free man.
Once they defect, spy agents sent to South Korea are given the opportunity to start
a new and happy life.
Leaflet 294
Here is another North Korean who has found love in the South. The front bears two
photographs of the marriage of a former defector to a South Korean woman. The text
on the front is:
DEFECTOR HAN IL-SUNG’S WEDDING CEREMONY
Han Il-sung, 24, defected to the Republic of Korea on 29 September 1966 with five
fellow-workers formerly assigned to the North Korean Railroad Department, and married a
beautiful girl, Kim Yoo-sun, 23, on 21 May 1967. He received blessing from many
well-wishers from various walks of life.
The text on the
back is:
HAN IL-SUNG'S MESSAGE TO THE NORTH KOREAN PEOPLE
Fellow
countrymen in North Korea, I defected to the ROK in a fishing boat belonging
to the North Korean Railroad Department with five other defectors, including
Choi Sung-sik, O Chun-yul, O Son-suk, An Su-gil, and Kim Young-chae, on 29
September 1966.
I had thought
vaguely that the Republic of Korea would be a good place to live in, but
when I arrived here, I was surprised to find the Republic of Korea people
living incomparably better than the North Korean people. My happy feelings
are beyond description as I got married today.
Leaflet 362
This leaflet
depicts a defector from North Vietnam getting married. It implies that
besides personal and economic freedom, a defector can find love in the
South. The text on the front is in the form of a letter home:
Dear Father and
Mother.
How are you
getting along these days? Five years have already passed since I left the
3rd Division of the North Korean People's Army to come down to the ROK.
After my defection, I received a hearty welcome from the people and was
provided with a resettlement allowance as well as a house from the
government. It was completely contrary to the Labor Party's propaganda claim
that defectors would be executed.
Now I enjoy a
happy life in the ROK, working in the head office of the National Bank of
Korea. It is a sorrow to me that Father and Mother can't attend my wedding
ceremony today. But you can see pictures of your daughter-in-law and me,
photographed on the wedding day. May your health last long.
Yours sincerely,
Song Chang-yong,
4 December 1967
The back shows
the celebration with many new friends made in the South Attending. The text
is:
The Labor
Party's propaganda claim that defectors would be executed is a perfect lie.
Wouldn't it be unreasonable to execute defectors? The ROK government treats
kindly and provides defectors with a resettlement allowance, a house, and a
job.
Defector Song Chang-yong marries Miss Park So-ja in Seoul Citizens
Hall.
Many people celebrate Song Chang-yong's wedding.
Leaflet 431
This leaflet
depicts a North Korean Army private, a Navy Lieutenant Commander and an Air
Force Major who all came south. The text on the front is:
SOLDIERS OF THE "PEOPLE'S ARMY" WHO SOUGHT THEIR SALKIL (THE WAY TO
LIVE).
AN ARMY
SOLDIER: Mr. Lee Young-kwang of the Republic of Korea Korean Power Company
was a former Private of the 2nd Battalion, 123rd Regiment, 47th Division of
the First North Korean "People's Army" Group, who defected to the Republic
of Korea by crossing the Armistice Line on 17 September 1967. Mr. Lee
Young-kwang in recent days.
A NAVY SOLDIER:
Lieutenant-Commander Lee Pil-un of the Republic of Korea Navy was a former
Senior Lieutenant of the Chief of Staff of the 7th North Korean Naval Base,
who defected to the Republic of Korea on the Western Sea by boat on 1
November 1965. Mr. Lee Pil-un on his wedding day.
AN AIR FORCE
SOLDIER: Major Chung Rak-hyun of the Republic of Korea Air Force was a
former Sublieutenant in the North Korean Air Force who defected to the south
in a MiG-15 on August 3, 1960. Mr. Chung Rak-hyun helps his wife at their
drugstore after he comes home from his office.
The Back is all
text:
TO NORTH KOREAN DEFECTOR, THE ROK GOVERNMENT…
GIVES A
RESETTLEMENT ALLOWANCE: The defector can receive enough resettlement
allowance, the maximum being one million won, to start a new life.
GUARANTEES
SECURITY: The ROK Government takes no notice of what he was and leaves his
former duty or rank under the Labor Party unnoticed.
GIVES A HOUSE:
The defector receives a home from the ROK government. He can live somewhere
in a city or farming village as he likes
OFFERS A JOB:
The defector can get a job fit for his abilities. He can also devote himself
to his studies at school. He can join the armed forces, if he wants.
A North Korean "Love"
Leaflet
We have just shown the reader how the South approached love in a
leaflet. It depicted the defector happy with his new bride. It is a romantic
scene. North Korea did it quote differently. Instead of loving his wife, the
new defector loves his new leader, Kim Il-sung. Apparently, a wife and
family are nice, but a Communist dictator is much sexier.
The front of the full-color leaflet depicts a South Korean
defector, now a North Korean officer, and his wife and two children, their
lovely home in the background. The text is:
On the auspicious occasion of April 15th, the most significant and
revered national holiday, we gather the blossoming loyalty of our family to
respectfully extend warm congratulations to the beloved General Kim
Il-sung.
The back is all text:
Wishes for a long life.
If the sensitive youth fail to grasp the grand discourse of the
era, they cannot lay claim to the elemental qualifications as seekers of
truth. I take pride in asserting that the intrinsic value and personality of
our contemporaries in this age of exploration of the brilliant history of
the great sun of our nation, General Kim Il-sung, as well as the study of
the principles of Kim Il-sung, are molded and illuminated through devotion
and acquisition of Kim Il-sungism. Therefore, I deeply cherish the honor of
embracing Kim Il-sungism and, while wholeheartedly dedicating myself to
acquiring these ideologies, I earnestly strive to preserve the fervent
loyalty of my entire family towards the General.
In the midst of the dismal reality overshadowed by the storms of
reactionary forces, the hearts of our entire family are filled with a desire
to elevate the esteemed General Kim Il-sung for the unification and
prosperity of our homeland. Moving forward, I pledge to illuminate this life
by venerating the great General and following the path of eternal loyalty.
On the occasion of the auspicious birthday of the esteemed General, with
sincere wishes from the Patriotic Comrades Association of the Military Unit
00, Captain Lee Cheol-su.
This ends the Love and Marriage
section.
The South Korean
Electrical Power Grid
Leaflet 123
This leaflet is designed to show the ability to produce electricity of South Korea. It
features four photographs of a dam and various power plants on the front and back. The
text on the front is:
ELECTRICITY OF SOUTH KOREA
Rapid Growth
The electricity generation facility is expanding all the time and the supply of
electricity is limitless without any rationing.
The Korean Electricity Company is located in Seoul and it contributes toward the
people's daily lives and the development of industries.
Choonchun hydroelectric power generation station which was constructed in 1964 has
the hydro-power generation capacity of 57,600 kilowatts.
The text on
the back is:
In South
Korea, cities are adorned with countless bright and beautiful light
displays, thanks to the unlimited transmission of electricity.
The Danginri
Power Plant, which generates 47,500 kilowatts of electricity.
This photo
captures a part of Seoul, with Namsan Outdoor Music Hall at its center.
Leaflet 124
A second leaflet with the theme of electric power depicts people
using power at the left and a dam with an electrical power plant at the
right on the front. The back depicts a power plant and men installing power
lines. 1,000,000 copies of this 1966 leaflet were disseminated over North
Korea. The text on the front from left to right is:
Power increase in South Korea contributes a service to the people’s
living conditions.
In South Korea, an abundant power supply has brought a high demand
for electrical appliances. As a result, the quality and volume of domestic
production of convenient household appliances has increased.
Shown in the picture is the Hwachon hydroelectric power
plant which has a capacity of 81,000 kilowatts.
The text on the back is:
A work scene in the second Yongwol thermal power plant.
Completed in 1965, the plant has a capacity of 100,000 kilowatts.
Exploitation of power resources makes it possible to install
electronic facilities in rural areas. Increased electric power brightens
rural areas in South Korea.
Leaflet 292
I selected this leaflet simply because it uses full color both on
the front and on the back. This leaflet would require several passes through
the printing press so the full color leaflets take more time to print, are
more expensive, and thus are rarer. Two photographs on the front and two on
the back depict the fertilizer plant and the worker’s housing. The text on
the front is:
Jeollanam-do Laju
Honam Fertilizer Plant
With modern machinery and equipment, it produces various products
including dry ice, liquid carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, argon gas, and
methanol.
Laborers work 8 hours
a day.
An ammonia synthesis
plant equipped with modern hierarchical equipment.
The text on the back is:
A fertilizer factory dedicated to supplying fertilizers in the
Honam region, which is a major grain-producing area in South Korea.
The carbon dioxide gas refining tower of the Honam Fertilizer
Plant.
Just by looking at the exterior of the workers' houses at the Honam
Fertilizer Plant, you can imagine the comfortable life they lead.
Leaflet 261
This leaflet is
about air transportation in the Republic of Korea. On the front the photos
depict a modern aircraft and the ticket office at Kimpo Airport. Those
standing in line, as shown in the picture, are just plain people, not party
leaders or rich capitalists. With various means of transportation available,
the ROK people can use airplanes any time they want. The back has three
photographs with captions: “the Republic of Korea economic development
contributes to the increase in the number of people who use airplanes when
they travel,” “there are several airports in provincial areas of the
Republic of Korea. This picture shows Suyong Airport in Pusan,” and
“Republic of Korea passenger airplanes have good interior facilities and
provide good service for passengers.” The text on the front is:
AIR TRANSPORTATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA.
Which means of
transportation do you use when you travel in North Korea? Train? Passenger
ship? Or airplane? In the Republic of Korea, many people use passenger
airplanes when they go on a long journey. In accordance with the increase in
the number of passengers, several airports have been newly constructed in
various places throughout the country, and passenger planes are operated on
schedule.
The text on the
back is:
IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, MANY PEOPLE USE PASSENGER AIRPLANES.
132-66
Leaflet 132-66 depicts various forms of public transportation and civilian aircraft.
It tells the people of the North that the Southerners can move about freely without
restriction. The text on the front is:
SOUTH KOREA ’S MASS TRANSPORTATION
Buses are also for farmers.
The text on the back us:
Republic of Korea 's Civil Aviation
South Korean Airlines not only offers daily domestic flights connecting the cities
like Seoul, Busan, Guangju, etc. but also flies internationally in competition with
foreign airliners. Providing unrestricted air travel to South Koreans is the
proof that South Korean civil air transportation industry has been well
established.
The Three-Cartoon Series
Leaflet 135
This leaflet
shows some Communist officials sitting in an office where the sign on
the wall shows business food production is down.
As you will
see as we study these Jilli leaflets, every now and then the 7th PSYOP
Group would print a small series of cartoon leaflets. Life in North
Korea was so hard that it was probably believed that the citizens might
see the black humor and satire in the way they were daily treated. At
any rate, this is one of the early series, three in a row from 135 to
137. In all three cases there is a crude cartoon on the front and the
back is all text. The leaflets measure 6 X 3-inches, which is the
standard size of Vietnam leaflets due to their accuracy when dropped
from altitude over the ocean, from a C130 Hercules aircraft. Many of the
other Jilli leaflets are larger at 8.5 x 3-inches. The various posters
on the wall say:
Our greatly respectred leader.
Workforce acquisition progress chart.
We survey the farmers 24 hours a day.
The stooge
reads the latest report to his boss:
Chairman
Comrade, this is a survey report on the food favored by the farmers.
Among them, 1% currently like the food, and 1% dislike it. The remaining
98% have no reaction. The reason is that they have nothing to eat.
The back is a
longer all-text statement:
Dear North
Korean farmer brothers! Despite the tremendous increase in production
that is often boasted about in the
[Newspapers] Rodong Sinmun or Minju Choson, and even by the Party
officials themselves, your lives remain difficult every day. They claim
that saving is necessary to rescue our compatriots in the South when
reunification is achieved. However, our brothers in South Korea and
people from the free world know too well that it is just another
deceitful tactic of the cunning ruling regime of the Workers' Party. Of
course, there is no need to go on about the insincere propaganda. But
one question arises: If North Korea's development is so dazzling and
life is good, then why hasn't the UN, free nations, or neutral countries
been invited to North Korea to confirm these facts? Also, what is the
reason for the dwindling quantities of essential goods?...
This leaflet
is a joke about the mismanagement of the North Korean agricultural scene
by high-ranking party members. Many of North Korea's agricultural
policies were identical to those of Stalinist Russia. Moreover, a good
amount of the food that was distributed to North Korean citizens came
from fellow Communist countries such as the Soviet Union. In the 1990s
because of years of economic mismanagement, floods and the collapse of
Communist countries, North Korea experienced a famine that killed
millions of people.
Leaflet 136
This leaflet
depicts a group of North Koreans reading signs pasted on walls. The
posters on the wall read:
I will create a paradise on earth for the people.
I am working tirelessly until I die, so that my throat won't run
dry.
(i.e., so that I can sustain myself).
A pun about rice cakes being unobtainable.
The text on
the front is:
This is the
same empty talk every day. The fellow farmers - they say the leader will
provide meat soup with rice, but it's all just talk.
The text on
the back is:
Ladies and
gentlemen of the farm, the Workers' Party has exploited the labor of the
people in North Korea with deceit, spreading the illusion that North
Korea is a "land of abundance" and that the laboring farmers enjoy meat
soup with their meals. They have also imposed a terrifying threat,
proclaiming that "those who do not work shall not eat," thereby
exploiting the people's labor.
Among the
people of North Korea, it is you, the cooperative farm workers, who
suffer the most from the tyranny of the Workers' Party. Despite having
large families, there are few people available to work, causing constant
worries about food shortages. Even if there are many workers, the
freedom to sell surplus produce or the obligation to sell certain
quantities to the state results in losing most of what you produce.
Consequently, you barely have enough to eat. Isn't this an unbearable
reality? The days of enjoying homemade rice cakes and having the freedom
to drink alcohol will not return under the rule of the Workers' Party,
no matter how many centuries pass.
Note: My translator explained that the comment in the poster is
like the phrase "pie in the sky." Both are meant to show represent an unobtainable dream, in this
case, the dream of eating traditional rice cakes due to the failing
North Korean economic policies.
Another series of four consecutive
Cartoon Leaflets
Leaflet 502
The artist who
drew this leaflet went to no great trouble to produce a high-grade image, but it
tells the story in its own way. The weak image depicts six soldiers sitting and
talking. A seventh soldier sits in the center and thinks. He clearly has other
things on his mind. He thinks:
YOU MUST DECIDE
The back is all
text:
You must decide.
Are you tired
of indoctrination, of endless meetings and discussion sessions? Afraid to
express your true feelings? Come to the Republic of Korea…and breathe free
air…start a new life.
You must decide.
A life of
indoctrination, of endless meetings, of loneliness, or do you wish to become
free to decide your own destiny?
You must decide.
The Republic of
Korea will welcome you.
Leaflet 503
The picture on
the front shows a group of collective farmers just discharged from the North
Korean Army. One looks at his military discharge. The text is:
ISN'T EIGHT YEARS ENOUGH TIME TO GIVE THE STATE?
The back is all
text:
Do you know
where the party will send you after a discharge from long years of service in
the North Korean Army? A work team in a remote farming village? Or to a
regimented factory life in a strange city? Possible. A man must have a right to
choose his own occupation. This precious right is fully guaranteed to all
Republic of Korea citizens. You can also enjoy this right if you join us here.
You now have a
good chance of moving to the south. The further away you are from the
Demilitarized Zone, the more difficult for you to come to the south. Find a way
to live (SALKIL) before you are sent away from the Demilitarized Zone. Hints on
crossing the Demilitarized Zone:
1. Do not speak
your mind to anyone.
2. Escape into
the DMZ during the hours of darkness, or when the weather is bad, or when no one
is observing you
3. Hide in the
bushes, in tall grass, or in a gully until daylight comes.
4. Approach any
ROKA and UN troops' outpost unarmed with your hands held over your head.
5. The ROKA and
UN troops will welcome you and assist you in starting a new life
Leaflet 504
This leaflet
shows four drawings of life in North Korea. There is a title in the center
and description on all four pictures:
Always the same routine.
When will this monotonous life change?
Party's General
Meeting
Military Training
Reminiscences
Class
Political Class
The back is all
text:
To soldiers of the "People's Army"
Summer has
come. Another spring is over. When summer passes, fall and winter will come.
Time flies, but there is no change in your life. Today you must take part in
a political class and a military training class, and tomorrow, the
Reminiscences class. You are wasting the golden age of your life vainly.
Sometimes you
may wish to quit your monotonous military life and go back home. But have
you ever thought that your life would not change much even after you go
home? There are the same types of meetings and classes in your hometown,
too. A political class, the Reminiscences class, the Vocational League's
class, the Socialist Labor Youth's class, the Party's general meeting, etc.
Wherever you may go in the North, your life cannot help being bound by
restrictions. Is there a country, then, where people enjoy their freedom and
happiness without any restriction? The answer is "yes." Many such countries
in fact. The Republic of Korea, your real fatherland, is one of these
countries, where you can enjoy a free and worthy life. Happiness is not far
from you!
Leaflet 505
Laflet 505 uses
a very common theme. Usually, it would show a single Communist soldier at a
crossroads, one side showing a peaceful village, the other side a destroyed,
burning village. Instead, this one shows a battle on the left and a peaceful
surrender on the right. The cartoon is hand-drawn and rather crude. The text
on the front is:
Which way will you take?
The back is all
text:
The North
Korean Army has continued to violate the Armistice Agreement by sending
infiltrators across the Military Demarcation Line into the Republic of Korea
for espionage and sabotage purposes. You, the individual soldiers, are being
exploited and placed at the mercy of your military commanders who have no
regard for your safety and well-being. There have been many North Korean
soldiers, your brethren, killed while violating the Armistice Agreement. We
stand steadfast in our desire to repel any aggression directed by your
commanders. We stand prepared to defend and protect our freedom and our
people's way of life. We will continue to eliminate all arms-bearing
soldiers who attempt to cross the Military Demarcation Line.
You would be
strongly advised to escape from the hardships and hazards imposed on you by
your military leaders, as they place no value on your welfare or your life
Lay down your
weapons and come South. You can cross the DMZ without danger to your life
provided you are not armed. We welcome you into the free Republic of Korea.
All people leaving North Korea to find SALKIL will be provided as a minimum:
a home, a job, and sufficient funds to assist in beginning a new life. Make
up your mind now, don't risk your life for North Korean military objectives
Leaflet 137
The last cartoon leaflet shows the same group of North Koreans,
still near the signs now speaking to some Communist bosses in an
automobile. The text is:
Comrade Chairman! Lenin said that a hungry person becomes a
communist. So, what kind of person do hungry communists become, then?
The text on the back is:
Farmers, do you truly believe that working on a cooperative farm is
a happier and more prosperous way of life compared to when you were
working as individual farmers? Even if you try to grow vegetables or
potatoes under the fence of your house for your own consumption, are you
not criticized as a reactionary? In North Korea, where everyone claims
that there is no class discrimination and that everyone can live well
together, why do you, as farmers, must endure treatment worse than even
factory workers, not to mention that the party officials will never
speak up for you?
156-66
Leaflet 156-66 depicts South Korean students reading magazines, brochures and
newspapers. It tells the North of the great number of reading material freely available to
people in the South. On the front, South Korean students publish their papers.
Freedom of Expression and Publication of Newspapers.
South Korean high school and college students publish their
school papers.
This demonstrates their creativity and their schools' uniqueness.
The back depicts students reading various publications including one written by a
Russian.
South Korean school papers not only publish research articles but
also student
affairs as well as a variety of intellectual and educational write ups.
This high school student is reading Soviet writer Solokhof's
article.
Dongkuk college students reading newspapers at the school campus.
A panel of North Korean defectors judged this leaflet and stated that
there are few school newspapers in Korea and they do not differ from Communist newspapers.
Leaflet 251
The leaflets
above mention the Freedoms the people of the Republic of Korea enjoy. The
leaflet talks about their freedom of religion. Five photographs on the front
and back show pictures of people practicing their religions or the houses of
worship. The text on the front is:
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA PEOPLE FULLY ENJOY FREEDOM OF RELIGION.
The eighth of
April on the lunar calendar is Buddha's birthday. On this day, Republic of Korea Buddhists commemorate his
birth with various ceremonies and lantern parades. In the ROK, where freedom
of religion is guaranteed under the constitution, the people are never
interfered with by the government regardless of their religion or the
religious ceremony they prefer.
Photos: ROK Buddhists parading along the streets in celebration
of the Birthday of Buddha on 8 April, (lunar date).
The text on the
back is:
Buddhism,
introduced into Korea at the beginning of the Three Kingdoms period, has
greatly contributed to the cultural development of our country.
Photos: A
lantern parade of the Republic of Korea Buddhists. North Korea
suppresses religion even though the law pays lip service to the freedom of
it. This never happens in the Republic of Korea.
Today the
Republic of Korea has many Buddhists, who have steadily maintained the good
traditions and culture of their religion
Photos: The
lantern parade commemorating Buddha's birthday is one of the day's most
colorful events. On 8 April, Republic of Korea Buddhists commemorate
the Sage's birth under bright lantern lights.
Leaflet 259
Leaflet 251
shows Buddhists worshipping. Leaflet 259 Shows Christians and Buddhists. The
leaflets are meant to show that all religions receive equal respect by the
government. The text on the front is:
The Workers'
Party claims freedom of religion in the Constitution, but it is resorting to
deceptive measures to suppress religion.
Just looking at
the Workers' Party's religious annihilation campaign alone reveals how they
employ policies that deceive the people. The South Korean government would
never employ such deceptive policies. The South Korean government is truly a
government of the people, for the people, and by the people. 259
Top picture - Catholics praying in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary. As of 1966,
there were approximately 700,000 Catholics in Korea.
Bottom picture
- A bride and groom holding a wedding ceremony at Myeongdong Cathedral in
Seoul - Korean religious people conduct weddings and funerals according to
the rituals of their religion.
The text on the
back is:
In Korea,
freedom of religion is fully guaranteed both legally and practically, so
people are not subject to any interference from the government in their
religious life and performance of religious ceremonies. Therefore, not
having a religion is also a freedom for the people, and there are no
restrictions on their spiritual life.
Top picture -
The photo shows Christians from Seoul Jongno Methodist Church leaving the
parish after finishing their Sunday service. They also serve the people by
carrying out social work.
Bottom picture:
In Korea, freedom of religion is fully guaranteed. There are many
Buddhist monks in Korea. One monk at Haeinsa Temple in Hapcheon,
Gyeongsangnam-do. There are Buddhists, temples, and Buddhist schools.
167-66/b>
Leaflet 167-66 depicts colleges in South Korea and implies to the people of the
North that every Korean can attend school and be educated. This 7 July 1966 leaflet is in
full color and was prepared at the USIS printing plant in the Philippines. In general, the
Okinawa presses never produced full-color leaflets. Text on the front is:
Chunang
University.
College students
in South Korea.
Text on the back is:
Ehwa Women's
University, number one in the world as a women's school.
A symbol of the development of a democratic school for college education.
The Main Building of Pusan University.
Leaflet 185
Education was an important achievement for the South Koreans so they used in on many
leaflets. On the front of this leaflet we see attendees at a 1966 educational conference.
The text on the front is:
Foreign Educators are attracted to the Traditional Culture of Korea
376 foreign representatives who attended the International Education Conference in
August 1966 in Seoul are seen sightseeing with their wives. All of them were deeply
impressed by our country’s traditional culture and the success of the Seoul
conference.
The foreign educators listen to the Royal music of Korea in the
Mekohming Banquet area.
The back of the leaflet depicts more international meeting and says:
15th International Educators Organization Conference in Seoul
In 1966, there were many international conferences besides the International
Educators Organization Conference. The Asian Congressmen’s Organization met and
brought more recognition to our country.
Dr. Lim Young-sin, the Chairman of the Korean Education organization speaks in front
of the representatives of foreign countries during the main conference.
When questioned, two North Korean defectors said about the education leaflets:
I was impressed by the leaflet on technical educational opportunities in South Korea
and realized that my preconception of the South Korean educational situation was
completely wrong and prejudiced. I also believe that this type of leaflet would strongly
impress the educational counterparts in North Korea and lead them to re-evaluate North
Korean propaganda regarding South Korea's educational situation.
I was very impressed by the leaflet and read it repeatedly. After reading the text,
I realized that even in their school life, the students in South Korea were being
encouraged to participate in various fields of arts according to their tastes.
182-66
Leaflet 182-66 depicts happy South Korean students at the beach on the front. The
back of the leaflet has three photographs of South Koreans having fun on water slides and
rubber rafts. Some of the text is:
The whole family is enjoying a summer vacation in South Korea.
Every summer in the economically developed country of the Republic of Korea,
millions of people seeking cooler places vacation in Inchon Song-Do, Busan Son-Do,
Haeundai, Kanwon-Do Gyonpo-Dai, Chunnam Manri-Pyo, Daechun, etc.
Leaflet 150
Another leaflet that shows the North that in South Korea the young people are offered
entertainment in both summer and winter. The front depicts happy Koreans ice skating. The
text is:
Indoor Skating Rink
In the South you can enjoy skating in the summer too
Seoul Dongdaemoon in-door skating rink has been recently opened and 700 skaters use
the facility each day. The rink has 450 hose-power freezing equipment. It is the first
such facility in Korea. Here is the freezing equipment room.
The back has photographs of skaters both indoors and outdoors. The text is:
A sport which is fun and good for your health
Skating is becoming a popular and public sport. In the South people without skates
can come to the rink and borrow a pair from the rink.
The pond in Duksoo Palace is famous for its lotus blooms in summer and becomes a
skating rink in the winter that is enjoyed by the young.
This leaflet was studied by a panel of North Korean defectors who stated that the
well-dressed young skaters would certainly be attractive to those people of the target
audience who continue to believe that South Korean children wear rags. There are no indoor
skating rinks in North Korea.
Leaflet 154
I added this leaflet because it uses sports as a theme. The images depict a basketball
game and a stadium. Sports have been a good way to get people to look at leaflets all the
way back to WWII. The back depicts what looks like an ice rink and a soccer field. The
text on the front is:
THE GROWTH OF ATHLETICS ACHIEVED BY YOUR BROTHERS IN THE SOUTH
Basketball competition between Korea University and Yunsei University which is
deeply rooted historically and traditionally.
In the South the Nationwide athletic competition is held at the public stadiums
built at many cities. The events are held by turn. The stadiums are all over the country
and hold the athletic competition throughout the year.
The Jangchoong Stadium which is of international scale.
The text on the back is:
Sports Events in the South
Various athletic events can be played in Jangchoong stadium which can hold tens of
thousands of spectators, rain or snow.
Jeil Woolen fabric team of the South beat Yahada team of Japan by 3 to 1 in a soccer
game played on Seoul stadium.
Leaflet 179
This leaflet discusses the development of Cheju Island. The 10
August 1966 leaflet features three photographs on each side, including
images of Cheju Agricultural High School, the Cheju hotel, and even the pig
farms. The Koreans call it a tourist site that the tourists can visit
whenever they desire.
The text on the front is:
The students at Cheju
Agricultural High School are shown cultivating subtropical plants.
The Cheju Agricultural High School is completely equipped with
modern facilities to cultivate and produce subtropical fruits such as
bananas and pineapples.
Pigs grow to an enormous size because they are well cared for and
kept in sanitary pens.
The text on the back of the leaflet is:
Cheju-do, the largest island of Korea, has become an outstanding
INDUSTRIAL AND LIVESTOCK RAISING AREA AS WELL AS A TOURIST SITE.
The Cheju Tourist Hotel is furnished with all the modern facilities
and provides efficient and kind service to tourists who visit Cheju-do.
Modern pig farms can be seen in various sectors of Cheju-do.
With South Korea’s development of the national economy, including
transportation and communications, people can now enjoy weekend trips to
Cheju-do.
People of the South can travel to a recuperation center or a rest
area at any time without and recommendation from their place of employment
or from the Party.
Leaflet 262
Here is a
second leaflet that uses the theme of livestock. This leaflet mentions pigs,
chickens and cows. It shows the diversity of livestock in South Korea. The
text on the front is:
Left photo:
The development of Republic of Korea farming has enriched the lives of
Korean farmers. The milk is completely pasteurized by machine and delivered
to each household in the morning. Dairy cows are also raised in large
numbers around Seoul. This picture was taken at farmer Kwak's meadow at
Chunhodong, on the outskirts of Seoul.
Right photo:
Perfectly pasteurized milk is delivered to many individual homes. Many dairy
cows are raised in the vicinity of Seoul.
The text on the
back is:
Livestock
farming in the Republic of Korea.
As the standard
of living of the Republic of Korea people has risen, the demand for eggs and
meat is on an abrupt increase. To meet this demand, livestock farming,
including poultry-keeping and hog-raising, has developed rapidly, increasing
farmers' income. Most farmers raise Angora rabbits and Leghorns, which are
especially prolific.
Left photo:
The pigpens of Mr. Kim's farmstead at Hwasung-kun, Kyonggi-do. The total
number of pigs being raised in the ROK shows one for each farmstead on
average.
Right photo:
Mr. Sung, a farmer of Kongju, Chungchongnam-do, keeps 500 hens and
cockerels. The average is 7 chickens per farmstead (as of 1967).
The “Miniature” or “Corner” Leaflets
Most of the Jilli leaflets were of the same general size, 2.5 x 6 inches, or 2.75 x 8.5
inches, considered optimum for dropping from aircraft with a spread of leaflets that could
be mathematically determined. At some point, the bean-counters must have complained about
empty spaces at the corner of the sheet. It was impossible to fill every inch of paper.
The Jilli printers solved the problem by producing smaller leaflets, sometimes 3 x 4
inches, sometimes 3 x 4.5 inches, depending on the empty space they needed to fill.
Because of their size these small leaflets would not fall with the standard sized
leaflets, but nobody cared. There was a short message, interesting photographs and as long
as the North Koreans could read them and the bean-counters were happy, who cared where
they fell? To make them easier to see, we print the leaflet fairly large here, but the
reader will understand that they are much smaller than the usual Jilli leaflet.
Leaflet 119
In this miniature corner leaflet the Jilli team tries to tempt the North Korean
soldiers by showing them a soldier in South Korea with a pretty girl and telling them:
Our soldiers receive 25 days of leave every year
The North Korean soldiers got basically no leave while they were in the service. The
back shows a busy street scene and the text:
The soldiers on leave make up the scenery in the streets of Seoul
with civilians
These street scenes made life in the south look very tempting to North Koreans. One
defector who went south said:
My decision to defect was made after my wife and mother died of sickness and I
received a strict warning from the Labor Party Committee which stated that I was
considered disobedient to the Party due to my excessive absenteeism from political
lectures and cell meetings. I was also told to make up a deficit of corn discovered
missing from the Cooperative Farm Warehouse. I was determined to defect. I visited my
aunt's home located near the DMZ where I thought I would have a favorable chance to cross
to the South. While in the vicinity of my aunt's home, I saw South Korean leaflets for the
first time. I was very favorably impressed by the leaflets, particularly those with scenes
of streets in Seoul. The leaflets convinced me that I, too, could lead a happy life in
such an environment and that I, therefore, should defect.
Leaflet 159
This small leaflet was prepared in May 1966 and depicts a soccer game on one side and a
basketball game on the other. The text is:
Soccer game in the Free Republic of Korea
A view of a basketball game in progress at Seoul’s Changchung
gymnasium,
the largest of its kind in Asia.
A panel of defectors said about the leaflet:
Soccer and basketball are the most popular games in North Korea. The target audience
will want to see the pictures on the leaflet.
Leaflet 160
The miniature leaflet depicts young South Korean athletes playing basketball on the
front and training for baseball on the back. The text on both sides is:
The growth of physical activity
Jangchoongdan indoor gymnasium
Training of the baseball team
Members of the baseball team of Baemoon High School runs on
Namsan Mountain to enhance their endurance
Leaflet 161
This small leaflet is about 3.5 x 3-inches. These leaflets are
usually from a corner of the sheet where there is a small clear area that is
not big enough for a regular leaflet. To use the entire sheet, they will
find a small leaflet to place in that spot. The leaflet depicts a beauty
parlor on the front and a tea house on the back. The theme is the happy,
affluent life of Republic of Korea women. The text on the front is:
Beauty parlor for the women of South Korea. The photo was taken in
Chongju City of Chungpuk Province.
The text on the back is:
Various kinds of hair styles for women. At a tea house in Chaechon City of
Chungpuk Province.
Leaflet 162
Every Jilli leaflet had a target. Workers with freedom to move to other jobs,
students offered higher education, soldiers offered better conditions, and
even the women of South Korea and the free life they have. I have made a small section
here of leaflets featuring women. This small corner leaflet depicts young South Korean women on one side and on the other
older women. The short text on both sides is:
Dresses worn by South Korean women
Summer attire
Light and good looking
In the south, even the elderly women go out in a cool dress in the
summer time, visiting or touring
Country women after sightseeing in Seoul City at the top of Namsan
Mountain
Leaflet 163
This 16 May
1966 small leaflet has the theme of the happy, affluent life of South Korean
women. The front depicts a flower arrangement class, the back shows women
viewing a flower arrangement exhibition. The text on the front is:
FLOWER ARRANGEMENT AND COOKING CLASS FOR SOUTH KOREAN WOMEN
Women may
voluntarily choose to attend classes. Here women are shown attending a
course on nutrition at the Pusan Girls’ High School.
The text on the
back is:
Women of South
Korea enjoy the right of equality with men as well as the freedom of
occupational choice in accordance with the Republic of Korea Constitution,
which also protects women from heavy labor.
Women of South
Korea are never forced to attend any kind of political indoctrination
classes. These pictures show South Korean women who are interested in such
subjects as flower arrangement and cooking skills to make delicious and
nutritious food.
236
The printing plant’s job order of Jilli leaflet 286-68 indicates that it
was the 286th item printed in 1968 near at the end of the campaign. The actual leaflet is
coded “236-front” and “236-back.” The leaflet was printed nine to a
sheet with two horizontal groups of four and one vertical. The leaflet is 6 x 2.4
inches that allows for deep penetration into the target area before it starts hitting the
ground. Small leaflets, more to a pound allows for a greater concentrtion deeper into the
target area. The front depicts a map of South Korea with the locations of the
various government, military, commercial and private radio stations. The text of the
leaflet uses the terminology and style of North Korea and includes some words that would
not be used by a South Korean. The text says in part:
At present there are more than 36 private and government owned radio broadcasting
stations in the Republic of Korea.
We have about 38 independent broadcasting companies; both domestic and
international. Fourteen of these stations are privately owned. Because of the geographical
layout of Korea, radio stations have no problem broadcasting to anywhere in the country,
and so the people have a wide selection of stations from which to choose from. The Korean
people's lives have been enriched because of this variety, being able to choose from arts
programs, political programs, etc.
The stations all broadcast accurately and quickly, bringing in political stories
from both the domestic and international stage. Because the Radio stations are for the
Korean people, they are also able to criticize the Government and the politicians in
power.
The back depicts a radio and the time and frequencies of South Korean broadcasts. The
text is in part:
The people of the Republic of Korea are even free to listen to an unlimited number
of foreign radio broadcasts.
The central Korean government has installed radio transmitters all over the
country. The Korean people's radios are not limited to only Korean broadcasts, but are
very capable of receiving foreign radio broadcasts as well. All you have to do is turn the
dial to your required radio station. Companies such as Kum Song (Goldstar) manufacture and
produce various styles of Radio sets, at various prices in order to please as many
customers as possible. As of October 1966, 1,107,526 radio sets have been sold to the
public.
The Republic of Korea has
Vast Coal Reserves
Leaflet 298
The front of
this leaflet has two pictures, Changsung coalmine’s interior and Kangwondo
Province, equipped with safety facilities. Miners are working with modern
machines. The back of the leaflet features two more pictures. The first is a
mining town in Changsung, Kangwondo Province. This town has all kinds of
cultural and health facilities, including a hospital and a playground. The
second is a hospital with modern facilities. Major operations can easily be
performed in this hospital. The text on the front is:
THE ROK MINERS WHO MINE COAL WITH MODERN MACHINES, CONTRIBUTE TO
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
In the Republic
of Korea, where various kinds of industry continue to develop, the demand
for coal is increasing. But the Republic of Korea miners fully meet domestic
demands by mining larger quantities of coal with good equipment. Recently,
coal has even been exported to foreign countries after meeting domestic
demands. The Republic of Korea miners enjoy a rich life with their high
income, living in modern houses.
The text on the
back is:
THE ROK MINERS ENJOY A RICH LIFE IN THEIR VILLAGE, WHICH HAS ALL
KINDS OF CULTURAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES
Leaflet 299
The front of
this leaflet has three photographs of Republic of Korea coal miners working
in modern and safe coal mines. The back shows the machinery and services
that are available to them. The text on the front is:
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA COAL MINERS WORK FOR HIGH WAGES IN COAL MINES
EQUIPPED WITH
SAFETY FACILITIES AND GOOD MINING EQUIPMENT
A mining village filled with modern houses - Changsung, Kangwondo
Province.
A miner loading rocks into a rock shovel - Samchuk, Kangwondo
Province.
Slacks being loaded into trucks - Changsung, Kangwondo Province.
The text on the
back is:
THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA GOVERNMENT HAS COMPLETELY PROVIDED CULTURAL
AND
HEALTH FACILITIES FOR THE WELFARE OF MINERS
Miners are studying the characteristics of machines used in the
pits.
A bathroom for miners - Kangnung.
A hospital for miners
equipped with modern facilities - Kangnung.
Leaflet 326 - Coal Mining
There are five photographs on
the two sides showing the modern coal mine of Kangwondo Province. The text
on the front is:
THE CHANGSUNG COAL MINE OF KANGWONDO PROVINCE PLAYS AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE
REPUBLIC OF KOREA BY PRODUCING A LARGE QUANTITY OF COAL
A coal miner
of the Changsung coal mine drilling in a pit.
A trolley car
enters a steel arch leading to the mine.
Miners place
their equipment in order after finishing a day’s work.
The text on
the back is:
THE MORE DEVELOPED A COUNTRY, THE BETTER OFF ITS LABORERS.
Mr. Kim, a
miner of the Changsung coal mine, playing an electronic phonograph. In the
Republic of Korea, the people’s economy has developed, and laborers enjoy a
modern life like this.
The Changsung
Coal mine has a hospital consisting of many clean patient rooms.
[Author’s
note]: Sometimes, coincidences are interesting. I chose the leaflet above
showing coal mines randomly because I thought it was an interesting subject.
Later I took out a copy of the PSYOP Intelligent Notes produced by
the seventh PSYOP Group on 13 May 1968. I was rather surprised to find the
first page I looked at talking about diseases of coal mine workers. Some men
who had defected to South Korea were questioned.
The most
prevalent disease suffered by the Mineworkers were tuberculosis and colitis.
There were quite a few patients suffering from these diseases among the mine
workers. The causes of these diseases were said to be because the workers
had to work in dusty and moist conditions underground. These patients
receive free medical treatment at the SOHO General Hospital, but the
facilities available in the hospital were very poor.
When asked
about the most unpleasant aspect of life in the coal mine, above everything
else was the fact that the coal mine authorities treated workers of South
Korean origin with discrimination in assigning them jobs in the coal mine.
One stated there was a total of approximately 2,000 mine workers employed at
the HAMYON Coal Mine, approximately 800 of whom were former South Koreans
who were prisoners of war and persons who were kidnapped during the Korean
War. They were forced to work in hazardous places.
It seems clear
that the interview of defectors was used in the production of the JILLI
leaflets. After hearing of the diseases, the leaflet was prepared showing
the clean coal mine and the hospital on the grounds.
This ends the
Coal Mining section.
The Republic of Korea has the Largest Cement Factory in Asia
Leaflet 324
The front of
this leaflet has one photograph of the Tongyang Cement Manufacturing Plant.
The back has three photographs of activities around the plant. The text on
the front is:
THE TONGYANG CEMENT MANUFACTURING PLANT IN SAMCHOK, KANGWON-DO
PROVINCE, PRODUCES
900,000 TONS OF CEMENT EVERY YEAR.
The Tongyang
Cement Manufacturing Plant, constructed on a 60,000 pyong site [2,135,000 square feet – about 49 acres] contributes to various
kinds of construction work in the Republic of Korea by producing 900,000
tons of cement annually. (A part of the output is even exported). Many other
Republic of Korea cement manufacturing plants include the Daehan Yanghwe
Company, the Sangryong Cement Manufacturing Plant and the Hyondae Cement
Manufacturing Plant, all of which produce cement also in great quantities.
Since construction works are being carried out in many urban and rural areas
across the country, cement is in great demand, and cement production keeps
increasing.
A view of the Tongyang Cement Manufacturing Plant.
Huge cement silos and a modern rotary kiln.
Captions on the
back from left to right
THE TONGYANG CEMENT MANUFACTURING PLANT AT SAMCHOK, KANGWON-DO
PROVINCE, PRODUCES GOOD CEMENT WITH MODERN MACHINES. SOME ITS PRODUCTION IS
EVEN EXPORTED TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
Limestone, one of the raw materials for cement, is quarried by
machine.
Worker Kim operating modern machines.
Cement bags being loaded on a freight car.
Leaflet 478
This leaflet
tells the North Korean people that the south has built the largest cement
plant in the Orient. The text on the front is:
THE ORIENT'S LARGEST CEMENT PLANT HAS BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN SAMCHOK
The East Coast
Plant of the Ssangyong Cement Company was constructed in Samchok, Kangwon
Province of the Republic of Korea, as the Orient's largest cement plant with
an annual capacity of 1,900,000 tons. There are many other cement
manufacturing plants, including Tongyang and Daehan. The Republic of Korea's
total capacity for cement production is 5,800,000 tons a year as of the end
of 1968. However, more cement manufacturing plants, including the Sungshin
Plant, which will have an annual capacity of 1,000,000 tons, will be
constructed by 1971 to increase the Republic of Korea's annual cement output
up to 120,000,000 tons.
The Seangyong Cement Manufacturing Plant was constructed on 31
October 1968 on a site of 600,000 square meters.
The back of the
leaflet depicts three photographs depicting parts of the cement plant's
building's, raw materials, and construction projects. The text and captions
are from left to right:
THE ROK'S CEMENT PRODUCTION INCREASED IN PARALLEL WITH CONSTRUCTION
WORKS.
Limestone, cement's raw material, being quarried by machine
(Ssangyong Cement Plant).
The Sesangyong Cement Plant's storehouse for unpacked cement (its
length is 72 meters).
Construction works are being actively carried out throughout the
ROK.
Leaflet 506
In this
leaflet, once again the Republic of Korea brags about their cement plants
being the largest in the Orient. The text on the front is:
The Sangyong Cement Plant of the ROK has been constructed as the
largest cement plant in Asia.
This plant, constructed at Samchok, Kangwon Province in October
1968, has an annual capacity of 1,900,000 tons.
The text on the
back is:
Increased cement production shows an aspect of the ROK's
development.
Packed cement is transported to all parts of the country.
The demand for cement keeps increasing, partly because of the
construction of many tall buildings.
[Note]: The
text above is very long and yet the text on the leaflet is short. I have
translated it, and the actual leaflet says little. Something like, "The
largest cement plant in Asia." However, I also have the official print
sheets that tell you exactly what the leaflet was supposed to say. I am
going with the latter, because what they meant to say is more important than
what they said.
This ends the
cement plant section.
Leaflet 403
This leaflet features three question marks. I have seen that on other leaflets from
other wars, usually asking “How did things go so wrong?” The text on the front
of this leaflet is economic in nature:
Why did the 7-year plan fail to achieve its goals?
Was it the fault of the workers?
Was it the fault of the technicians?
The back of the leaflet explains:
The workers and peasants have shown their ability to produce under difficult
conditions with poor pay but they have continued to achieve the ever-increasing norms,
despite the long tedious work days...So, who caused the 7-year plan to fail? It was
certainly not the workers, peasants or technicians. It was certain narrow-minded Party
members who fail to see the need for modern methods in modern times….
Leaflet 408
This July 1968 leaflet lists all of the things the people of North Korea should strive
for. The text on the front is:
10 ITEMS ALL MEN SHOULD STRIVE FOR
The 10 items are mentioned on the back:
More freedom of expression
More pay
More free time after work and holidays
Freedom to choose one’s own occupation
Freedom to select one’s educational fields
Freedom to choose one’s place of residence
More and greater variety of healthy foods
More consumer good to buy
More freedom of travel
For farmers: No more deductions, fees, etc.
The Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) as a Propaganda Theme
Leaflet 411
This leaflet is dated 9 June 1968 and tells the North Korean soldiers and Party bosses
how to defect to the south. The image depicts two soldiers south of the DMZ waving to a
North Korean soldier on the north side. Some of the text on the back of the leaflet is:
Instructions to Come to the Republic of Korea
Do not speak your mind to anyone. Escape into the DMZ during the hours of darkness,
or when the weather is bad, or when no one observes you. Hide in the bushes, in tall
grass, or in a gully until daylight comes. Approach any Republic of Korea or United
Nations outpost, unarmed with your hands over your head. The Republic of Korea or United
Nations troops will welcome you and assist you in starting a new life.
Leaflet 500
This leaflet
and the next leaflet and not pretty or colorful. They are more in the way of
instructing the people of North Korea what the Demilitarized Zone is, and
what has happened there. There is a poor image of the DMZ with text in the
center of a divided Korea on the front of the leaflet. The text is:
WHAT IS THE DEMILITARIZED ZONE?
Northern Boundary
2 kilometers
Military Demarcation Line
2 kilometers
Southern Boundary
The main
message is on the back of the leaflet:
The
Demilitarized Zone was established by international agreement to end
hostilities that began on 25 June 1950. Its purpose was to establish a
buffer zone between the two opposing forces to prevent the occurrence of
incidents which might lead to a resumption of hostilities. This Armistice
Agreement was signed in good faith in 1953 by Kim Il-song, Peng Teh Huai,
Commander of the "Chinese People's Forces" and the Commander-in-Chief of the
United Nations Command. This agreement states that:
a. Neither
Military nor Civilian personnel could cross the Military Demarcation Line
unless specifically authorized to do so by the Military Armistice
Commission.
b. No automatic
weapons would be brought by either side into the Demilitarized Zone area.
Have you abided
by the agreement signed by Kim Il-song, Peng Teh Huai and the
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command? If you have crossed the Military
Demarcation Line or brought automatic weapons into the Demilitarized Zone
area, then you have dishonored this agreement and the trust of your leader
Kim Il-song, who signed the agreement in good faith.
[Author’s
note]: Earlier in this article we see the South complaining in many leaflets
about how the North has sent guerrillas and assassins across the
Demilitarized Zone on terrorist missions. Here they are not commenting on
that at all. They tell the North that their great leader Kim Il-song signed
the treaty, and if they do cross the Demilitarized Zone, they are disobeying
their beloved former leader.
Leaflet 501
This leader is
very much like 501, but at least the drawing on the front is a bit better.
Once again, it mentions their responsibilities when near the Demilitarized
Zone. The text on the front between the two halves of the Korean peninsula
are:
WHAT CONSTITUTES A VIOLATION OF THE ARMISTICE AGREEMENT SIGNED IN
1953 BY KIM IL-SONG?
Northern boundary
2 kilometers
Military Demarcation Line
2 kilometers
Southern boundary
The text on the
back is:
1. If you have
crossed the Military Demarcation Line without authorization by the Military
Armistice Commission, then you have violated the Armistice Agreement signed
in 1953.
2. If you have
carried automatic or heavy weapons into the Demilitarized Zone, then you
have violated the Armistice Agreement signed in 1953.
3. If you have
fired your weapons across the Military Demarcation Line, then you have
violated the Armistice Agreement signed in 1953.
This Armistice
was signed in good faith by Kim Il-song, Peng Teh Huai, the Commander of the
"Chinese People's Forces," and the Commander-in-Chief, United Nations
Command. If you violated this agreement, then you violated the honor of the
men who signed it in good faith. Have you dishonored your leaders?
Leaflet 513
I added this leaflet here because it features a soldier that had
guarded the DMZ for North Korea. One side features the ex-military
policeman, and the other depicts the envelope he used to send a letter to
his old comrades on the DMZ . The text is:
Dear Comrades,
How are you getting along these days? I defected to the Republic of
Korea on 28 March 1969. When I first stepped in the Fatherland, I was deeply
impressed by the tremendous economic development. I wonder why the Communist
Party leaders continue to spread their war propaganda instead of trying to
improve the people’s economy.
I hope the day will come soon when
you are able to enjoy a free, happy life like the people of the South and
me.
Ro Kwan-bong, former leader of 3rd Platoon,
1st DMZ Police Company, 25th Division,
5th Group of the NK Army, on 1 July 1969
This ends the
DMZ Section.
Leaflet 477
Let me end this story with a really interesting leaflet depicting a lunging German
Shepard. At one point in my life on Korea I dealt with such dogs. They were ferocious. In
the United States the police dogs knock down and hold their targets. In Korea they knocked
them down and attacked them. It was quite common to hear of an interloper knocked down and
the dog taking the victim by the head and shaking him and killing him. In one case there
was a 135-pound dog that was so strong that they could no longer train him on padded
handlers. His jaws were so strong that they could bite through the heavy padding. In the
leaflet above, the North Korean spies are warned about such dogs. The text on the front
is:
Do you know why the North Korean soldiers’ attempts to violate
the southern portion of the Demilitarized Zone fail? Patrol dogs are one of the reasons.
The text on the back is:
A well-trained dog is fiercer and wiser than a wolf or a fox. Many trained dogs
along the southern portion of the Demilitarized Zone are watching intruders from the
North, even at night. On 28 September 1968, Dakiro, a patrol dog of a Republic of Korea
military unit found four soldiers of the People’s Army trying to violate the southern
portion of the DMZ. The dog caused all of the soldiers to be killed by pointing them out
to the ROK Army. We advise you to rally to our side immediately if you are ordered by your
superiors to invade the south.
The "400" Full Color Series
In general,
full color series are rather rare. Black and white leaflets can be done with
one run through the printing presses. If you want to add a highlight or
title in color, that takes two runs. Full color takes a minimum of four
runs. And it is not just the extra time but also the different color inks,
and the registration. You can have three perfect runs and if the fourth one
is a little off the leaflet has a blurry look and the sheet must be
destroyed. I mention all this because late in the program, the 7th PSYOP
Group was printing many leaflets in full color. They are on various topics.
Curiously. The data sheets
of these leaflets says that they were printed by the Group’s Japanese
detachment. the Japanese Detachment in 1968 printed
1,640,000 calendars for Vietnam, 1,080,000 magazines for Okinawa, 640,000
posters for Korea, and 160,000 bulletins for Japan. Of course, the major
product is always leaflets during wartime and the Japan Detachment printed
2,575,593,530 leaflets for dissemination over Vietnam. Another 18,300,980
were dropped on North Korea. I have selected a few to show the readers how impressive full color can be.
Leaflet 470
The theme of
this leaflet is “Farmers,” but the text seems not to be so much about
farming, but as the way farmers have the time to make extra money on the
side. It must have been hard for a North Korean farmer working 16-hour days
to read. The text on the front from left to right is:
REPUBLIC OF KOREA FARMERS WORK HARD AND ENJOY A HAPPY LIFE.
Farmers in
Tamyang-gun, Chonnam Province, make bamboo products (handbaskets, chairs,
etc.) and export them to countries such as France and Australia.
They earn an
annual average of 41,600 won (worth 640 kg of rice) per household by
exporting bamboo products. (This photo shows an exhibition center for bamboo
products.)
This rice all
belongs to farmers living in the village. (Shihueng-gun, Kyonggi Province.)
The text on the
back is:
REPUBLIC OF KOREA FARMING
VILLAGES
A rural village
in Andong, Kyongnam Province.
The cattle
market in Suwon, Kyonggi Province.
Province.
Farmer cultivating winter vegetables. (Mun Tae-chu's vinyl hot-bed in
Kangdong, Kimhae-gun, Kangwon
Leaflet 474
This leaflet has three full-color
photographs on the front, and the back is all text. The message and caption
on the front are from left to right:
NEW HIGHWAY BETWEEN SEOUL AND SUWON, AND SEOUL AND INCHON OPEN.
A scene of highway construction (near Bupyong, Kyonggi Province).
The opening of the Seoul-Inchon superhighway (Youngdungpoku,
Seoul).
The Seoul Inchon highway (20.4 m wide and 23.4 km long). On this
highway, you can drive from Seoul to Inchon in only 18 minutes.
The message on the back is:
IN THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA, "A MODERN VERSION OF THE SPACE
CONTRACTION MAGIC
HAS BEEN REALIZED BY THE OPENING OF THESE SUPERHIGHWAYS.
On December 21,
1968, the Seoul-Inchon and Seoul-Suwon superhighways were completed using
the ROK's own capital and technology. The Seoul-Suwon highway (22.4 m wide
and 22.8 km long) was completed only as part of the 425 km Seoul-Pusan
Highway construction project.
WHAT IS THE HIGHWAY?
It is a
driveway on which cars can travel at 50-120 km per hour. There are no
obstacles on the highway. It takes only five hours to travel from Seoul to
Busan by highway. This highway is constructed to facilitate commodity
transportation and to help the development of rural areas.
Seoul-Inchon/Soul-Suwon superhighways were completed using the
ROK's own capital and technology.
Leaflet 481
This leaflet
depicts a defector from North Vietnam enjoying himself in the South as he
sails around the waters of Seoul. The back of this leaflet is all text. The
front says:
WHAT IS THE SALKIL PROGRAM?
The photo
caption is:
Min Kyong-tae,
a former engineer of the Pyongshin-ju belonging to the Shinuiju Marine
Products Office, escaped from the North to find SALKIL. Now he enjoys a
happy life in Seoul.
The text on the
back is:
SALKIL is an
“open arms” program of the Republic of Korea Government to welcome those
North Korean agents and people who have the courage and determination to
seek their real SALKIL in the Republic of Korea. According to this SALKIL
program, those who defect to the ROK:
1. Will receive
a resettlement allowance from the Republic of Korea Government to start a
new life.
2. Will be
provided with a house, and
3. Will be
given a job.
[Author’s
note]: Notice that the term “Open Arms” was first used in Korea. A decade
later the United States would use the same term in the Vietnam War in the
surrender program called Chieu Hoi.
Leaflet 484
This is an
interesting leaflet. Sometimes they tell the North Koreans they can come to
South Korea for freedom or to meet a nice girl and get married. This one
tells the reader about a defector who came south to get his disease treated.
The text on the front is:
PAK TONG-HA HAS SOUGHT HIS SALKIL AND CURED HIS ILLNESS
Former North
Korean fisherman Pak Tong-ha, who was suffering from tuberculosis, defected
to the Republic of Korea to seek his salkil on August 16, 1967. He worked at
the Musudan-ri Marine Products Office, Hwadea-gun, Hambuk Province.
Since his
defection, he has been cured of his disease at the Inchon Red Cross
Sanatorium. He will soon leave the hospital as a healthy man again.
We hope you will visit us after you leave our sanatorium.
Of course, I will.
Pak Tong-ha (second from the left) on a passage of the sanatorium.
The message and
captions on the back are (from left to right):
"By seeing the
living environment of the Republic of Korea people, I have realized what
freedom and happiness means," says defector Pak Tong-ha.
On a mild winter day, Pak Tong-ha is reading a book in the
sanatorium's garden.
Pak Tong-ha (left) saying, "I will be leaving this hospital within
a few days."
"Check!" Pak Tong-ha (right) playing chess in a lounge
Leaflet 489
This leaflet is
dated 22 October 1969. The theme is, “The North
Korean Defectors' Happy Life.” Its purpose is to encourage North Koreans to
come over to the South. It has two pictures on the front and two on the
back. The leaflet is a bit longer
than usual at 2 7/8 x 8 1/2-inches in size. The text on the front is:
North Koreans Who Have Come Over to the South Looking for a New Way
of Life
Former NK Air Force Officers
These two
people playing paduk are former North Korean Air Force officers. On the left
is former 2nd Lt. Chong Nak-hyon, 26th Group, 2nd Interceptor Division, of
the People's Armed Forces. Chong came over to the South on August 3, 1960.
On the right is former 2nd Lt. Yi In-son, Aviation Group, 858th Army Unit,
People's Army, who defected on June 21, 1955. Both are now majors in the ROK
Air Forces.
Former soldiers
of the People's Army: Yi Yong-kwang, former Private, 123rd Regiment, 47th
Division, 1st Army, North Korean Army
(center),
defected on 19 September 1967. (He is now working for the Korean Power
Company).
The text on the
back is:
North Koreans Who Have Found a New Way of Life in the South:
Happiness and Comfort are Theirs.
Cell chief,
Labor Party: Choi Song-sik, former Party cell chief, Wonsan Branch, 6th
Office of Construction, North Korean National Railroad, fled to the South on
29 September 1966 together with his wife, O Jong-yol, and four associates.
Choi is now employed by the Korean National Railroad. Here Choi and his wife
visit Kyongbok Palace.
Former armed
agent North Korean 1st Lieutenant Kim Ik-pung, 2nd Platoon, 2nd Base, 124th
Army Unit, had been sent to the south as an armed agent in early November
1968. But after seeing the remarkable progress in the Republic of Korea, he
decided to defect.
[Author’s note]: Paduk is the Korean
name for the ancient board game known internationally as Go, a strategic
game of territory played with black and white stones on a grid.
Leaflet 491
This leaflet
was dated 28 October 1969. The title is "Freedom of Travel in the South."
The purpose is to publicize prosperity in the Republic of Korea. It is a
long leaflet 2 7/8 x 8-inches in size. Four color photos with captions are
on the front and three color photos with captions are on the back. The text
on the front from left to right is:
Seoul Station
Seoul Station
handles an average of 83,000 passengers a day. But during the New Year or
Chusok holidays, the number of passengers swells to 190,000.
The text on the
back from left to right is:
Freedom of Travel in the South
Whether it is a personal trip or official travel, one can go
anywhere at any time without worrying about food tickets.
Platform on the Kyong-In Line, Seoul Station.
The gangway of the passenger coach is crowded with well-wishers.
Passengers who have arrived by train are awaiting taxis. (In front
of Seoul Station)
Leaflet 492
This leaflet
has three photographs on the front and three on the back. The theme is
"Farming Villages in the Republic of Korea." As usual, the purpose is to
encourage North Koreans to come over to the South. The leaflet is a bit
longer than usual at 2 7/8 x 8-inches in size. The text is (from left to
right).
These Are Rural Areas Of The Republic of Korea
A farming village full of tile-roofed houses. (Sihung-gun,
Kyonggi-do)
Farmers are carrying a load on their small tractor, at Puyo,
Chungchong-namdo
Yards of every house are filled with large bundles of unthreshed
rice. (Kayang-gun, Kyonggi-do)
The text on the
back is:
The Farmers' Life in the Republic of Korea
Farmers are
harvesting rice in their own paddy fields. (Sihung-gun, Kyonggi-do) The
harvested rice belongs to them; hence they don't have to worry about
distribution.
"Now we have
more than enough dried yellow corvinars to last the whole summer season." (A
farm household in Hwasong-gun, Kyonggi-do)
"Let's make a
lot of Kaesong-style kimchi this year." (Pochon-gun, Kyonggi-do)
Press Sheet of Jilli Leaflets
The sheet depicted above shows that a great number of Jilli leaflets were printed on
one sheet before being cut into individual pieces. 22 different leaflets are shown on this
one sheet. This sheet was printed by the large but slow Harris 17-inch by 22-inch sheet
fed press. Two such presses were in use during the 1966-1967 time periods.
When I discussed this strange use of multiple leaflets on a single sheet with one of
the officers responsible for designing and printing the leaflets he explained:
The printed leaflet mix was my contribution to PSYOP. During WWII and Korea,
they were using 4 to 16 times as many leaflets as required to do the job. By sending my
titles, it reduced the concentration of any given leaflet. Some mixes actually contained
more than one copy within the mix. This permitted putting extra emphasis on a given
leaflet (theme). We actually took the mixes and further mixed them in the box loading
process. The most titles dropped on a single mission were fifty-one.
Jilli Leaflet Mix 18
I met a lot of resistance from the printing plant (initially). They wanted it
nice and clean - One leaflet - one job order. However, after a little bit of mixing on the
job order, they loved the idea of a run of ten million. They used copper plates that could
handle the total run without any further action. Actually, once in a while when we had
some special job or leaflet, they wanted others to print with the mix.
After North Korea captured and boarded the USS Pueblo on 23 January 1968 the Jilli
project was shut down for over a year. The following year the USAF attempted a leaflet
launch on 14 April. The winds were unstable in the early spring and the leaflet drop was
aborted. The North Koreans, remembering that the U.S. had ceased propaganda flights after
the taking of the Pueblo may have decided that the Americans could be bullied. As a
result, the next day on 15 April 1969, an American EC-121M was attacked and shot down by
two North Korean MiG-17 Fresco fighters 90 miles off the coast of Korea over the Sea
of Japan. Thirty-one crewmembers were killed. By coincidence, this was Kim Il-song’s
birthday. There is reason to believe that this attack might have led directly to the Jilli
program termination.
It is possible that there was at least one other Jilli plane lost. There is no
evidence of this action and many interested parties have attempted to prove whether or not
it ever occurred. Notice that Sam McGowan mentions above that during his briefing he was
told that an aircraft was lost. When I asked “intelligence types” about this
alleged loss of a Jilli aircraft I was told that no American aircraft had been lost but
one plane with an all-Korean crew was lost. So, we report this action strictly as rumor.
According to the unproven story, the first Jilli aircraft had a system with a wooden
dispenser mounted in a troop door. The loadmasters would drop the leaflets through
the dispenser. After a few aggressive test missions North Korea retaliated by shooting the
aircraft down. A “cover story” was spread among the airmen in Okinawa that one
of the electronic signals intelligence C-130 ELINT aircraft flying from Yokota Air Base in
Japan had flown close to contested air space and was shot down. Allegedly, the whole
operation was classified and while every other airplane shot down by Russians, Chinese or North
Korea has been declassified, this one was not. All that has ever been released is the
August 1963 date, with the loss of six lives and that the airplane call-sign
“LT,” which might mean “leaflet transport.” After the airplane
was shot down, missions were flown using C-47s, then in 1965 the mission resumed with
C-130s.
Do I believe the story? I tend to doubt it, only because I suspect it would be hard
to keep such a loss classified after all this time. I know that many former pilots and
crew have tried to find out more about this alleged North Korean attack with little or no
luck. It is an interesting project for a researcher that wants to take it on.
Post Script
Operating
Instructions – PSYOP for North Korea
Years after the end of the
Jilli program I ran across this 7th PSYOP Group book of instructions for PSYOP against
North Korea. I was elated. I believed I had the actual manual for the leafleting on North
Korea. Then I read this passage:
The purpose of these
unclassified instructions is to provide guidance to and prescribe responsibilities to
subordinate detachments of the 7th PSYOP Group for the conduct of day-to-day PSYOP
directed to North Korea in support on the United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea
PSYOP programs.
I knew that could not be
right. The Jilli program was highly classified and the pilots were told they would be
placed in Leavenworth if they ever mentioned the name. Then I looked at the date. It was
21 November 1968. Now it was clear. The classified program had shut down earlier the same
year, but the Group, believing they would still be called upon to leaflet North Korea from
time to time in the future had produced a new “cleansed” unclassified
instruction booklet with general rules on how the leaflets should be prepared in the
future. It was wonderful reference material, but not exactly what I thought I had.
The instructions and themes for the Propaganda to be dropped over North Korea
post-Jilli are found in this 1968 18-page Department of the Army 7th Psychological
Operation Group booklet: Operating Instructions – PSYOP for North Korea. The
Groups mission is to on a continuous basis, conduct PSYOP directed at the North Korean
military forces and civilian population. The Group will rely on the Korea Detachment and
the 15th PSYOP Detachment to develop propaganda for North Korea. This very detailed
Operation Plan contains about 200 different themes to be used specifically on soldiers,
civilians, intellectuals, farmers, students, workers, party members, etc.
An example of how to explain to the North Koreans the advantages of defecting includes:
1. You are welcome to the South and will be treated with dignity and respect.
2. You will be free to seek a job of your choice.
3. You will have more free time after work
4. You will be able to select where you want to live.
5. You will contribute to the economic growth of the Republic of Korea.
6. The government will assist you in getting established.
Of all the themes, I found this one the most intriguing. One of the themes to be
stressed among all the targeted groups is the fact that South Korea is helping South
Vietnam in its war with the North. I do not see how this would help an unhappy North
Korean defect to the south.
All target groups: Republic of Korea contributions to Vietnam.Continue to provide
maximum publicity to what the Republic of Korea troops and civilians are doing in Vietnam.
Point out to the North Korean audience that the presence of South Koreans in Vietnam
reflects Allied unity against Communist aggression.
North Korean Reaction
There is no way to tell if the North Korean violations and incidents were a direct
result of the leafleting campaign, but we can make s fair case that it could be.
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Underhill wondered about the reaction of the North Koreans to his
leaflets. He wrote to the United Nations Military Command and said:
I directed the high altitude leaflet program against North Korea in the mid to late
1960s. I noticed at the time that certain North Korean hostile actions appeared in direct
response to various phases of the program. The leaflet program began in 1964 with the use
of a C-47. In 1965, a C-130 aircraft was used which dropped ten tons per mission. Later,
two C-130s were used until the final drop in late 1968.
The U.N. Command answered with a list of significant violations and incidents. The list
listed air violations, naval violations, armed attacks, intrusions, and firings in the
demilitarized zone. We find that in the years 1964 to 1966, the average number of
violations was 21. In 1967, the violations rose to 200. In 1968, they reached 575.
Shooting in the DMZ rose from the previous year’s 12 to 165. The program was ended by
1969 but there were still 157 violations. The following year they dropped to 79.
It is hard to draw any conclusions from these numbers. Remember, the Vietnam War was
being fought at the same time so the North Koreans might have felt they were less likely
to be called to task for these violations. Whatever the reason, it is interesting to see
how the numbers peaked at the height of Operation Jilli.
I have a copy of the 21 November 1968 Department of the Army 7th Psychological
Operations group booklet, Operating Instruction: PSYOP for North Vietnam. The
document provides guidance for the conduct of PSYOP directed at North Korea. The Group
mission is:
The Group, on a continuous basis, will conduct PSYOP which is directed to the North
Korean military forces and civilian population and which is designed to fulfill
psychological objectives delineated by United Nations Command and United States Forces
– Korea.
The booklet goes on to give no less than twelve pages of leaflet themes to be used
against the Communist North. There is no way to list all of the 100+ themes, so I have
chosen six to give the reader an idea of the propaganda being prepared by the U.S. forces:
1. You are welcome in the South and will be treated with respect.
2. Defect immediately to the South when you reach the demilitarized zone.
3. The United States does not resort to the use of force unless they are attacked.
4. Purges are a constant threat to security and well-being of all Party members.
5. The United Nations and South Korean forces are strictly defensive.
6. North Korean leaders never accept blame for their failures.
The United States also introduced radios into North Korea. They were floated onto the
shores in a float bag on the water.
