By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter

CEOs of South Korean businesses at the inter-Korean industrial complex in the North Korean city of Gaeseong plan to meet with Unification Minister Kim Ha-joong today to discuss operations at the industrial site.

They will ask the ministry to persuade civic organizations to stop dropping leaflets on North Korea, a company executive said.

The meeting comes as the reclusive state has indicated it could close the site down in retaliation for propaganda fliers sent via balloons by civic groups in the South into the North.

An official of a company operating in the industrial park said on condition of anonymity that he and other representatives would urge the minister to solve two major pending issues ― the leaflets and a labor shortage.

``We decided to call on the ministry to stop some civic organizations from sending the fliers, to help solve the labor shortage and to present countermeasures for possible losses that we may face due to a closedown,'' he said.

A day earlier, Minister Kim said at the National Assembly that his ministry will try its utmost to keep the industrial park active and not let the site be shut down.

The ministry also unveiled specific measures Wednesday to assist the companies at the Gaeseong site.

Under the plan, the Seoul government will construct a day care center that can accommodate 200 children at the complex and a crematory this year.

It also promised to complete the allocation of 100 commuter buses in a bid to help resolve the labor shortage.

The South originally sought to build a dormitory to house North Korean workers, but could not begin construction as the North cut off all official communication to protest President Lee Myung-bak's tougher stance toward the state.

Despite these plans, companies at the complex are worried about what sanctions North Korea may impose.

As the Seoul government has guaranteed that it would compensate for only part of the equipment investment under a related insurance contract, many of the firms cannot avoid bankruptcy if the North closes down factories there.

Some companies that are building facilities are also expected to see financial losses.

Currently, nearly 80 companies are operating at the site.

Pyongyang has elevated its threat to shut down the area after some civic groups mainly consisting of North Korean defectors sent balloons with tens of thousands of fliers attached containing criticism of the North's dictatorship, and the promotion of democracy.

Last Thursday, North Korea's military authorities conducted a survey of the area and asked repeatedly how long it would take to empty the place in an apparent attempt to pressure Seoul.

ksy@koreatimes.co.kr