Special Law on Yeosun Incident Finally Submitted to the Public Administration and Security Committee

Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol Appears Before the Public Administration Committee, Emphasizes the Need for Special Legislation
"It Should Be an Opportunity for Victims and Bereaved Families to Find Closure and Move Forward"

Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol (Suncheon Gwangyang Gokseong Gurye Gap, Judiciary Committee). Photo by Facebook capture.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] With the ‘Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Honor for the Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident (hereinafter referred to as the Yeosun Incident Special Act)’ being introduced for the first time at the Administrative Safety Committee (Chair Seo Young-kyo, hereinafter referred to as the Committee) held the day before, the first step has been taken toward enacting the long-awaited Yeosun Incident Special Act by the residents of Jeollanam-do.

Rep. So Byeong-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea (Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye Gap, Judiciary Committee), who proposed the Yeosun Incident Special Act as the main sponsor, personally attended the full meeting of the Committee to persuasively explain the necessity of enacting the special law.

Rep. So stated, “Special laws have already been enacted or are in progress for the investigation of the truth and restoration of honor for victims in cases such as the Jeju 4.3 Incident, the Nogeun-ri Incident, the Geochang Incident, and the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Uprising, but there is still no special law for the Yeosun Incident,” adding, “Although it has been proposed repeatedly in the 16th, 18th, 19th, and 20th National Assemblies, it has yet to pass, and expectations for the passage of this bill are higher than ever in Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and western Gyeongnam.”

He also added that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the judiciary have recommended the enactment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act, emphasizing, “It has been 72 years since the Yeosun Incident occurred, many pieces of evidence have disappeared, and considering that the victims and their families have passed away or the survivors are in their 80s and 90s, the enactment of the special law is extremely urgent.”

Finally, he appealed, “I earnestly ask you to deeply understand the legislative intent of the bill, to resolve the heartfelt grievances of the residents of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and western Gyeongnam, and to create an opportunity to move forward into the future.”

The newly proposed Yeosun Incident Special Act was jointly drafted by five lawmakers from the eastern region of Jeollanam-do, including Kim Seung-nam, Kim Hoe-jae, Seo Dong-yong, and Joo Cheol-hyun, and has incorporated diverse opinions from representatives of bereaved families, civic groups, professors, and local historians as much as possible.

The five lawmakers from the eastern region of Jeollanam-do have agreed to strengthen their cooperation system and consult frequently to jointly respond to the first subcommittee review in the Committee.

Rep. So expressed his determination that once the bill passes through the Committee’s discussion and moves on to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (hereinafter the Judiciary Committee), he will do his utmost as a member of the Judiciary Committee to ensure the passage of the Yeosun Incident Special Act.

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