Gijeong-dong propaganda village, situated 1.8 km from
Daeseong-dong Village, was built in the
northern area of the DMZ, in the communist north, for the purpose of
propaganda to show onlookers that the country is prosperous. The
village has no residents except soldiers. At night lights come on in some of
the buildings, but they come on in the same buildings every night at the
same time, obviously automated to make it appear the village is inhabited,
although it is not. At times field workers and building workers are
seen, but that is all. Otherwise it is a life-less city.
The world's highest flag tower
stands at the entrance of the village 33 meters tall flying a 300lb North Korean flag.
This tower was not originally as tall as it is now, but when the flag pole
in Daeseong-dong was extended, taller than the Gijeong-dong pole, the North again quickly
extended their pole taller, just as they had done with the
Panmungak Pavilion.
At 300lbs, it takes a big wind to get this flag flying, something not every
visitor gets to see. Here you see several times I was able to catch it
flying. Interesting note: It is easier to get it flying when it's
raining out and the flag is wet.
