MONTHLY REPORT -- SEOUL BUREAU -- MAY 1988

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2013
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: June 3, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
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ROUTING AND RECORD SHEET
SUBJECT: (Optional)
Monthly Report -- Seoul Bureau
FROM:
EXTENSION
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Chief, Operations Group
DATE STA
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building)
DATE
OFFICER'S
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RECEIVED
FORWARDED
INITIALS
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
EMBASSY OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FOREIGN BROADCAST INFORMATION SERVICE
SEOUL BUREAU
3 June 1988
FBIS-5613-88
FBIS
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director, Foreign Broadcast Information Service
THROUGH: Chief, Operations Group
SUBJECT: Monthly Report -- Seoul Bureau -- May 1988
May, the traditional month for student activity in the Republic,
has seen an increase in demonstrations with an anti-U.S. overtone. On 19
May, following a demonstration held to honor a student suicide victim, a
group of demonstrators attacked the USIS building in Seoul, only hours
after several Bureau staff members had attended an emergency medical
training class in the building. On the following day a student "suicide"
squad attacked the Embassy itself with home made "noise bombs." Five
students succeeded in scaling the wall, holding up a placard calling for
the ouster of "U.S. imperialists" after they had thrown several of the
explosive devices. Other than one guard and one student injured in the
scuffle that ensued, no injuries were reported. Several Bureau staffers,
including the chief and the deputy chief, passed through the area where
the incident took place, missing the event by a matter of minutes. Again
on 23 May another U.S. facility was attacked, this time the USIS building
in Kwangju. A Korean security guard was reported to have been injured in
the attack, but there were no reports of other injuries or damage.
Despite the high-profile student demonstrations, U.S. personnel
continue to move freely about Seoul and surrounding areas where little
evidence of increased hostility to the U.S. presence can be seen. Except
to comment on the increasing anti-U.S. sentiment among some students, the
local media have paid scant attention to the anti-U.S. activities
themselves. Local papers do indicate that student activity will continue
at least until 10 June, the date set for proposed North-South student,
talks at Panmunjom, which the government opposes.
A. Editorial/Monitorial
1. So far the student demonstrations have not affected Bureau
operations in any way. In a review of the attack on the Embassy, emergency
procedures and message handling were discussed, with an emphasis on the
need to ensure personal safety.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
2. The new political situation in the Republic, with the
opposition gaining numerical superiority in the National Assembly, has
caused an increased need.for coverage of the vernacular media, a need
which has been partially met by the hiring of a contract translator. With
the help of the contractor, they roduction from South Korean vernacular
newspapers during the month tripled April's output.
3. The Bureau has added the new self-proclaimed independent
Seoul daily newspaper HANGYORE SINMUN to coverage. Sample copies of
HANGYORE SINMUN and the Catholic weekly PYONGHWA SINMUN have been mailed
to NERD. The Korean unit is on the lookout for worthwhile publications to
add to coverage in the flood of new publications coming out in South
Korea.
4. The clandestine Voice of National Salvation (VNS) English
language cast, which had been free from signal interference, has been
jammed since the beginning of the month. Monitors are continuing their
efforts to cover VNS despite the interference.
B. Communications
The Bureau technicians have resolved the initial problems
experienced with the Multicomm software provided by Okinawa Bureau, and
the Communications unit is regularly capturing the KCNA press casts on-
computer diskette. The old SATRAP equipment is now only used on the
occasions when no PC is available.
C. Lateral Services
1. The Bureau relayed an AG media analysis of North Korean
threats on the Olympics, done at the request of the State Department's
Korea desk, to Seoul Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Brooks.
2. The Bureau conveyed a request from a local military consumer
for a copy of a July 1987 speech by North Korea's Kim Chong-il to
Headquarters. NERD was able to furnish a copy of the speech, which was
passed on to the consumer.
3. In a message modifying filing requirements, which did not
affect Bureau procedures, the U.S. Consulate in Shenyang expressed its
appreciation for "FBIS Seoul's support."
D. Technical
1. The Bureau sent two defective Watkins-Johnson Model WJ-8718A
receivers (s/n 3768, 3777) to Headquarters.
2. The Bureau technicians took measurements for new receiver
racks to be installed at the remote antenna site at Pyongtaek.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5
A. Personnel
1. The process of interviewing and testing monitorial candidates
to fill positions in the Korean unit is now underway. Several good
prospects have been identified so far.
2. With the agreement and cooperation of NEAD, the Bureau has
hired a local contract translator to process items from the vernacular /
press.
3. Associate editor) Iwas promoted to GS-B.
Julie Precious, Department of Defense Korean political affairs
analyst, visited the Bureau on 31 May for familiarization and a discussion
of coverage.
Chief, eou ureau
cc: Chief, Okinawa Bureau
Chief, Hong Kong Bureau
STAT
STAT
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP91-01355R000400130007-5