Democratic Party Candidates in Gwangju Region Pledge to Attract 'National Violence Trauma Center'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Democratic Party of Korea's candidates for the April 15 general election in the Gwangju region have adopted the "National Trauma Healing Center for State Violence Gwangju Attraction" as a common pledge for the 21st general election. They also promised to work together to enact legislation and secure budgets for the establishment of the center.

On the 7th, according to the Democratic Party of Korea Gwangju Metropolitan City Party (Chairman Song Gap-seok), candidates Song Gap-seok, Lee Hyung-seok, Min Hyung-bae, Lee Byung-hoon, Lee Yong-bin, Yoon Young-duk, Yang Hyang-ja, and Cho Oh-seop announced the "Democratic Party of Korea Gwangju Candidates' Common Pledge Agreement."

The agreement consists of ▲ enacting the provisional "Act on the Establishment and Operation of the National Trauma Healing Center for State Violence" in the 21st National Assembly ▲ securing a budget for the natural environment-friendly construction of the Gwangju Trauma Center ▲ efforts to establish Gwangju as an Asian hub center for healing state violence trauma.

The Democratic Party candidates said, "President Moon Jae-in pledged the establishment of a national trauma healing center in the last presidential election and reiterated the necessity of its establishment through the May 18 commemoration ceremony in 2017," adding, "The establishment of the center is a declarative meaning that the government will take direct responsibility for the recovery of victims of state violence."

They also emphasized, "In 2012, Gwangju began operating the 'Gwangju Trauma Center,' Korea's first state violence trauma healing institution, and was the first in Korea to be approved for membership in the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT). Over the past eight years, Gwangju has successfully carried out healing and rehabilitation projects for more than 600 survivors of state violence and their families, making it the optimal location for the national center."

In January last year, Gwangju was selected as the optimal site for the center's establishment through the "Feasibility Study and Basic Plan Service" conducted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, but the related legislation has not been prepared, leaving the attraction and establishment of the national center in Gwangju at a standstill.

Chairman Song Gap-seok promised, "Considering the aging of survivors of state violence including May 18, we will expedite the enactment of related laws and budget securing in the 21st National Assembly," and added, "Democratic Party candidates will work together to ensure that Gwangju can establish itself as a symbol of healing and harmony through the attraction of the National Trauma Healing Center for State Violence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.