Mayor Heo Seong-mu Exonerated After 70 Years... 15 Masan Bodo League Victims Acquitted

On the 20th, bereaved families and representatives of civic groups from the Changwon area held a press conference in front of the Masan Branch of Changwon District Court to welcome the not guilty verdict in the retrial of civilian victims in the Changwon, Masan, and Jinhae National Guidance Alliance incident.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] Fifteen victims of the Masan National Guidance Alliance, who were unjustly killed by the state on charges of conspiring to commit pro-communist acts before and after the Korean War, have been acquitted.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Masan Branch of Changwon District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Gi-in) on the 20th acquitted the late Song Gi-hyun, Shim Sang-jik, Shim Eul-seop, Kim Hyun-saeng, Kwon Kyung-sun, Kim Im-su, Byun Jae-han, Byun Chung-seok, Lee Kwe-ho, Lee Jeong-sik, Byun Jin-seop, Kang Shin-gu, Kim Tae-dong, Lee Yong-sun, and Hwang Chi-young, who were indicted for violating the National Defense Security Act, in five retrial trials.

They were sentenced to death and died in August 1950 by the High Military Court of the Martial Law Command in the Masan area on charges of violating the National Defense Security Act.

As the court ruling was announced, the local community unanimously expressed their welcome.

The bereaved families held a press conference in front of the Masan Branch of Changwon District Court on the same day and welcomed the acquittal.

They said, “It is fortunate that the bereaved families, who have endured painful times with cold hearts without even being able to express their pain due to ruthless state violence, can relieve some of their resentment.”

They added, “Substantive government measures to restore honor are necessary,” and urged, “The government should take the lead in quickly compensating the victims, and the Past Affairs Settlement Committee for Truth and Reconciliation should identify and punish the perpetrators.”

Mayor Heo Seong-mu of Changwon also issued a statement welcoming the court’s retrial acquittal.

Mayor Heo said, “Although the 70 years of pent-up resentment cannot be resolved by a single trial, I apologize on behalf of the government for the past wrongs committed by the state,” offering condolences and congratulations to the bereaved families.

He added, “Together with the 1.04 million citizens of Changwon, we welcome the decision of the Masan Branch of Changwon District Court, which has shown through its ruling that justice always lives no matter how much time passes.”

He also expressed gratitude to the prosecution and defense counsel who requested the acquittal of the defendants.

Mayor Heo pledged, “The city will also take the lead in honoring the spirits who were unjustly sacrificed, recording history, and passing it on to future generations.”

The Gyeongnam Provincial Party of the Democratic Party of Korea stated in a commentary, “With today’s court acquittal, we hope that the honor of the deceased is restored, albeit belatedly, and that the bereaved families are comforted. We sincerely welcome the court’s ruling.”

Meanwhile, the Guidance Alliance was a government-affiliated organization founded in 1949 by the Rhee Syngman regime with the purpose of identifying and recruiting leftist forces hiding within South Korea. When the Korean War broke out, the government at the time illegally arrested, detained, tortured, and massacred members of the Guidance Alliance, suspecting that they might sympathize with the People’s Army.

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