A North Korean trash-carrying balloon floats near Jamsil Bridge on the Han River in Seoul, June 9. Yonhap

Trash-filled balloons sent by North Korea to the South have caused nearly 27 million won ($19,000) in property damage in Seoul and surrounding Gyeonggi Province, according to an opposition lawmaker, Sunday.

Rep. Yang Bu-nam of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea revealed data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the office of Gyeonggi Province, which shows that the total damage caused by North Korean balloons was approximately 26.78 million won from May 28 to June 12.

This includes some 20 million won reported in Seoul and 6.6 million won in Gyeonggi Province.

Since May 28, the reclusive regime has launched thousands of balloons toward South Korea in response to anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by North Korean defectors and activists in the South. Most of the retrieved balloons carried scrap paper and waste, the military said, noting that their analysis showed no hazardous material so far.

The most significant incident occurred on May 29 at a logistics center in Seoul's Yeongdeungpo District, where a balloon landed on a parked car, causing some 1.6 million won in damage by destroying the car's roof.

Another incident on June 2 in Seoul saw a balloon fall on a parked car, damaging the front passenger-side window and hood, with damage estimated between 1 and 2 million won.

On the same day in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, three balloons fell on a residential complex, damaging the roof and ceiling and causing 4.1 million won in damage.

Additionally, a balloon equipped with a time-delay detonation device landed in the same city, causing a fire in a car and resulting in 1.21 million won in damage to the front wheel and driver's seat.

There is currently no legal basis for compensating for the damage caused by North Korean balloons. This has led to legislative efforts to address the situation.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety recently announced plans to use reserve funds to support the estimated damage reported by Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

"Given that North Korean balloons have continued to cause direct and indirect harm to our citizens, the government and politicians should quickly establish a plan to compensate for the damage," Yang said.