'Investigation into Hyeongjebokjiwon Truth' Past Affairs Act Passes Public Administration Committee... Plenary Session to Process Tomorrow

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] The amendment to the Basic Act on the Settlement of Past Affairs for Truth and Reconciliation (Past Affairs Act) passed the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee plenary session on the 19th.

The Public Administration and Security Committee held a plenary session in the afternoon and approved a total of 57 bills, including the Past Affairs Act. The Past Affairs Act had been pending since it was referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee in October last year, but after being returned, it was re-approved by a substitute resolution. A substitute resolution means invalidating the previously approved motion and re-approving it. The Past Affairs Act is scheduled to be finally processed through the Judiciary Committee plenary session and the plenary session on the 20th.

If the bill passes the plenary session, the Past Affairs Committee, which ended its activities in 2010, will be reactivated. The scope of investigation will be expanded from the Japanese colonial period to the authoritarian rule period, allowing investigations into incidents such as the Brothers Home and the civilian massacres during the Korean War.

The period during which one can apply for truth verification to the Past Affairs Committee is stipulated as two years from the enforcement date of the law. The committee’s investigation period is three years, with the possibility of extension within one year. Additionally, a basis was established for the committee to conduct hearings. The compensation clause for victims, which had been contentious, was decided not to be stipulated to ensure the swift passage of the bill and the prompt resumption of the Past Affairs Committee.

Along with this, the Public Administration and Security Committee also processed an amendment related to the restoration of honor and compensation for those involved in the Buma Democratic Uprising. The main point of the bill is to extend the investigation period of the Buma Democratic Uprising by one year. Furthermore, to enhance the effectiveness of the investigation, a power to order accompaniment was newly established for those summoned by the committee.

In addition, an amendment to the Road Traffic Act was processed, defining electric kickboards as "personal mobility devices," allowing them to travel on bicycle paths but limiting the maximum speed to 25 km/h and prohibiting carrying passengers. The committee also passed an amendment to the Special Act on Safety Management of Multi-use Facilities, mandating the installation of simple sprinkler systems in lodging-type multi-use facilities such as goshiwons.

The Act on the Activation of Data-Based Administration also passed the Public Administration and Security Committee. This bill is an enactment law that establishes an institutional foundation to implement data-based administration and serves as the legal basis for the "Public Big Data Center" promoted by the Moon Jae-in administration. It includes provisions such as the establishment of the Data-Based Administration Activation Committee and the formulation of basic and implementation plans for data-based administration activation. Public institutions are required to build a data joint activity foundation and management system, register data that needs to be jointly utilized on the data integration management platform, and may request data provision to the private sector if necessary.

Meanwhile, the Public Administration and Security Committee did not submit the amendment to the Local Autonomy Act to the bill review subcommittee. Lee Chae-ik, chairman of the bill review subcommittee and a member of the United Future Party, said, "I hope the Local Autonomy Act will be discussed when the 21st National Assembly opens," adding, "There are many conflicts between ruling and opposition parties and among related organizations regarding contentious issues."

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