World · East Asia & Pacific · 2 hrs ago
Public campaign criticizes political disputes after DMZ landmine blast
A public campaign in South Korea has criticized political disputes following a North Korean landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone, or DMZ.
The campaign was held on October 10 and 11 in areas near the military border in Gimpo and Paju, and near the defense ministry in Yongsan Park.
Its advertisement showed a soldier with a serious injury to one leg balancing on the other.
The organizers said the image was meant to draw attention to injured troops and to political divisions that make it harder for the country to move forward on security.
They said discussion of soldiers’ safety and measures to prevent another incident had been overshadowed by arguments over responsibility.
Some people said the image could make the serious harm caused by landmines seem less severe.
The organizers said the display was a test sample and that they plan to revise it to emphasize the danger of landmines.
A public campaign criticized political disputes over the response to a North Korean landmine blast in the Demilitarized Zone.
The guerrilla campaign took place on Oct. 10 and 11 in areas of Gimpo, Paju and Yongsan Park in Seoul.
Its advertisement showed a uniformed search soldier with a severe injury to one leg, balancing on the other.
The campaign organizers said political conflict was diverting attention from troop safety and measures to prevent another incident.
Some people criticized the image as making the serious harm caused by landmines appear too light.
- Who
- The campaign was run by Lee Je-seok Advertising Institute, led by advertising expert Lee Je-seok.
- What
- It staged a public campaign criticizing political disputes after a North Korean landmine blast in the DMZ.
- When
- The campaign took place on Oct. 10 and 11, 2026; the institute announced it on Oct. 12.
- Where
- Areas of Gimpo and Paju near the military border, and Yongsan Park near the Ministry of National Defense.
- Why
- The organizers said political disputes were overshadowing troop safety and measures to prevent a repeat incident.
Lee Je-seok Advertising Institute
Critics of the advertisement
Campaign message
Lee Je-seok Advertising Institute
The image highlighted both a soldier injured by a landmine and the country’s inability to move forward amid political division.
Critics of the advertisement
The portrayal could make the serious harm caused by a landmine seem too light.
Next steps
Lee Je-seok Advertising Institute
Lee said the displayed board was a test sample and would be revised to emphasize the danger of landmines.
Critics of the advertisement
Not stated
The “one-legged” figure was used in two senses: the actual body of a soldier injured by a landmine explosion, and the security reality of the Republic of Korea, unable to move forward in balance because of political confrontation.
The advertisement board is a test sample, and we plan to revise it in the future to raise awareness of the danger of landmine injuries.
The institute staged the campaign in areas of Gimpo, Paju and Yongsan Park.
The institute announced the campaign and its criticism of political responses after the landmine blast.
- Campaign dates
- Oct. 10–11, 2026
- Announcement date
- Oct. 12, 2026
- Campaign locations
- Gimpo, Paju and Yongsan Park
- Organizer
- Lee Je-seok Advertising Institute
- Advertisement image
- A uniformed search soldier with a severe leg injury balancing on the other leg
Sources
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