MONTHLY REPORT -- SEOUL BUREAU -- OCTOBER 1988

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 8, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9
ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Seoul Bureau
FROM: EXTENSION I NO.
DATE
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Chief, Operations Group October 1988
TO: (Officer designation, room number, and
building)
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Exec. Reg.
FORM 610 USE PREVIOUS
1-79 EDITIONS
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 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
SEOUL BUREAU
8 November 1988
FBIS-5618-88
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report -- Seoul Bureau -- October 1988
//I/1\\\
FBIS
With the conclusion of the Olympics as the month began, student
demonstrations have once again become an issue of note. Anti-Americanism
is still a major theme, with the U.S. Information Service buildings in
Taegu and Kwangju, the USO in Seoul, and the Hannam Village military
housing area in Seoul among the targets of Molotov cocktails this month.
Demonstrations of one kind or another are daily occurrences on most
university campuses. Other themes becoming prominent are protests of
tuition hikes and protests against the "irregularities" of the previous
regime. Even though an errant Molotov cocktail narrowly missed a
monitor's car on one occasion during the month, the purpose of most
demonstrators is still to attract attention to their cause rather than to
inflict harm. U.S. and local Bureau personnel continue to move about
freely with little risk of harm from the protestors. The demonstrations
center mainly around several university campuses with those in Seoul
itself continuing to be fairly localized and easily avoidable.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. October saw two major policy speeches by South Korean
President No Tae-u carried live by Seoul television and radio stations. On
4 October No Tae-u proposed a meeting with North Korea's Kim I1-song in a
policy speech at the National Assembly. On 19 October the Bureau extended
its hours to handle live television coverage of No Tae-u's speech to the
United Nations General Assembly, in which he again made overtures to the
North. Both speeches cleared the Bureau in good time on the day they were
given. The North's initial reaction to both overtures was swift--and
negetave--coming in broadcasts from the clandestine radio Voice of
National Salvation on the day after each.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9
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2. The South Korean party leaders also took turns making their
views known in speeches to the National Assembly carried live by radio and
television on the 25th and 26th. The Bureau texted all four of the
lengthy policy speeches at high precedence, and vsls were processed for
headquarters consumers.
3. The Republic of Korea returned to Korea standard time on 9
October. The Government has indicated that daylight savings time will not
be used again next year due to the complaints of citizens.
4. The Bureau has begun filing a press selection list for
vernacular South Korea press items as a result of a discussion with
Production Group's Asia Division. AD is now getting several South Korean
papers with a shorter time lag, thus making the press selection list
necessary to avoid duplication.
B. Communications
The Bureau took advantage of a scheduled primary communications
circuit outage on 25 October to get further experience using the
international direct dial backup system. Twenty-one messages were filed
through the IDD link with Okinawa Bureau with only minor problems. Bureau
communicators have demonstrated their ability to handle IDD, and with a
little more experience it should become a fairly routine operation.
C. Technical
During a trip to the remote antenna site at Pyongtaek on the
19th, Bureau technicians tested a new Watkins-Johnson WJ-8718a receiver
using one of the Delta RCC-2 remote controller units. Tests showed no
difficulties in operating the receiver at the remote site from the
Bureau. Replacement of the current complement of Collins receivers with
Watkins Johnsons will take place during a visit by the regional engineer
still to be arranged.
D. Lateral Services
One item was texted from the North Korean party paper NODONG
SINMUN on request from the United Nations Military Armistice Commission
secretary's office.
A. Personnel
1. Former Korean Unit Chief one of the founding
members of Seoul Bureau, died on 20 c o er after a long illness. A
delegation of Bureau personnel, including the deputy chief, the chief
monitor, and unit chiefs as well as several monitors and colleagues from
other Embassy offices, paid their respects to surviving family
members at the family residence on 21 October
2. Korean monitor) (returned to duty on the 17th
after her absence for maternity leave.
STAT
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9
3. Junior editor) )arrived on 20 October on STAT
4. Junior editor) )arrived on 3 October to begin a JIA I
3-month training TDY.
B. Buildings and Grounds
With the installation of new shelving on 24 October, Embassy GS0
completed renovation of the Bureau's newly configured storage area.
A. I la new Embassy economic officer, visited the JIAI
Bureau for familiarization on 12 October.
B. I la contract power expert, visited from 25-28 October to STAT
review the Bureau's recent power upgrade and to survey future power
requirements.
STAT
Chief, Seoul Bureau
cc: Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130003-9