5·18 Organization's 'Public Law Entity' Establishment Bill Passes National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A bill to incorporate organizations related to the May 18 Democratic Movement as public legal entities has passed the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee's bill subcommittee.

Min Hyung-bae, a member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Gwangsan District 2), announced on the 2nd that the first bill review subcommittee of the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee reviewed and approved the "Amendment to the Act on the Honor and Treatment of May 18 Democratic Movement Merit Recipients."

The amendment includes provisions to allow the establishment of the May 18 Democratic Movement Injured Association, the May 18 Democratic Movement Merit Recipients' Bereaved Families Association, and the May 18 Democratic Movement Contributors Association as legal entities to improve the rights and interests of May 18 democratic merit recipients and their families.

Those who contributed to the May 18 Democratic Movement have received various veterans' benefits, but related organizations have faced difficulties in operation and management because they were not defined as public legal entities.

The title of the law will also be changed to the "Act on the Honor and Treatment of May 18 Democratic Movement Merit Recipients and the Establishment of Related Organizations."

Some contents originally included in the amendment will be reconsidered later.

First, the recommendation of one sibling as a bereaved family member if the victim has no direct descendants will be addressed separately through a law at the standing committee level for the sake of consistency with other laws.

The living adjustment allowance for those in financial hardship will also be reconsidered once the Veterans Affairs Office completes its investigation and report.

Representative Min said, "Although there are regrettable parts in the amendment, such as the scope of bereaved families and the living adjustment allowance, we will carefully review and reflect the parts that were not included later," adding, "We will do our best to ensure that related laws such as the May 18 Truth Investigation Act and the Punishment Act for Historical Distortion are promptly processed, contributing to inheriting and developing the spirit of May 18."

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