End of Hunger Strike at Hyeongjebokjiwon... Ruling and Opposition Parties' Public Administration Committee Chiefs Agree on Processing Amendment to Past Affairs Act (Comprehensive)

Kim Moo-sung Mediates... Persuades Victims Protesting on the Roof of the 2nd Floor of the National Assembly Members' Office Building

[Asia Economy Reporters Kim Hyemin and Wondara] The ruling and opposition party floor leaders of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee agreed on the amendment of the "Basic Act on the Settlement of Past Affairs for Truth and Reconciliation" (Past Affairs Act) on the 7th.

Accordingly, Choi Seung-woo (51), a victim of the Busan Brothers Home who had been staging a high-altitude protest on the roof of the National Assembly Members' Office Building entrance since the 5th, also ended his protest.

Hong Ik-pyo of the Democratic Party of Korea and Lee Chae-ik of the United Future Party, floor leaders of the Public Administration and Security Committee, met with Choi in the Members' Office Building in the afternoon and announced that they would process the amendment of the Past Affairs Act before the 20th National Assembly ends on the 30th. The amendment bill had passed the Public Administration and Security Committee last year without the participation of the Liberty Korea Party (the predecessor of the United Future Party), but was stalled due to procedural issues raised by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.

Representative Hong said, "We have basically agreed to submit a revised bill. Regardless of the issues between ruling and opposition lawmakers, the bill must be promptly processed for the victims affected by the Past Affairs Act." Representative Lee also said, "The United Future Party is not fundamentally opposed. It was just that the negotiation process was not smooth," adding, "Representative Hong took a progressive stance, and we plan to propose to the chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and the party leadership to create a revised bill and pass it in the plenary session."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

During the ruling and opposition agreement process, senior United Future Party lawmaker Kim Moo-sung played a mediating role. Around 3 p.m. that day, Kim met through a window of the Members' Office Building and persuaded the Brothers Home victim to withdraw his protest. It was reported that he persuaded him by saying, "The ruling and opposition parties have reached an agreement. Although the temporary session of the National Assembly is until the 15th, we will extend it if necessary to process this."

Kim told reporters, "We agreed on the bill, but there were procedural issues. I conveyed that intention," and added, "As someone leaving the National Assembly, I thought I should finish well."

The ruling and opposition floor leaders of the Public Administration and Security Committee plan to send back the existing bill pending in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and submit a revised bill.

If the amendment to the Past Affairs Act passes, the Past Affairs Settlement Committee, which ended in 2010, will be newly launched. Since the ruling and opposition parties agreed to revise the scope of truth investigation from "February 24, 1993" to "until the era of authoritarian rule," investigations into incidents such as the Brothers Home and civilian massacres during the Korean War have also become possible. The ruling and opposition parties also agreed on ▲deletion of punishment provisions for obstruction of testimony, ▲investigation period of 3 years with a 1-year extension, and ▲non-public hearings.

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