Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol Submits Petition from Yeosun Incident Bereaved Families to National Assembly Public Administration Committee

Scheduled for submission to the Public Administration Committee's Bill Review Subcommittee on the 22nd
From 73 Years of Neglected Historical Pain to a Future of Reconciliation and Coexistence

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] Assemblyman So Byung-chul (The Democratic Party, Suncheon·Gwangyang·Gokseong·Gurye (Gap)) announced on the 18th that he delivered a petition from bereaved families hoping for the enactment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act to Seo Young-kyo, Chairperson of the Administrative Safety Committee (The Democratic Party, Seoul Jungnang-gu Gap), and other members of the Administrative Safety Committee.

This year marks the 73rd anniversary since the Yeosun Incident occurred.

From the 16th National Assembly to the 20th National Assembly, a total of four bills were proposed, but none were properly discussed.

However, in the 21st National Assembly, after the bill was proposed, the first public hearing was held on December 7 last year, and procedures are steadily progressing for the bill’s passage, making the possibility of its approval higher than ever.

In this atmosphere, on the 10th, at the Democratic Party’s Supreme Council meeting, Party Leader Lee Nak-yeon expressed his determination to enact the Yeosun Incident Special Act.

On the 11th, he visited Suncheon, paid respects at the Yeosun Uprising Monument, and held discussions with bereaved families for the passage of the special law.

In particular, he wrote in the guestbook, “With the ‘Yeosun Incident Special Act,’ we will heal the past and build a future of reconciliation and coexistence,” reiterating his determination to pass the special law by February, or at the latest early March, in the National Assembly.

It is known that bereaved families, hoping for concrete results from these actions, gathered and delivered the petition.

The petition delivery ceremony was attended by Assemblyman So Byung-chul, who is the principal proposer of the Yeosun Incident Special Act, along with five National Assembly members from the eastern Jeollanam-do region including Kim Seung-nam, Kim Hoe-jae, Seo Dong-yong, and Joo Cheol-hyun; Seo Young-kyo, Chairperson of the Administrative Safety Committee; Assemblyman Han Byung-do, Chairperson of the Administrative Safety Committee’s Bill Review Subcommittee 1; Assemblyman Yang Ki-dae of the Administrative Safety Committee; Lee Gyu-jong, President of the Yeosun Incident Bereaved Families Association; and Park So-jung, Chairperson of the National Coalition for the Enactment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act.

Assemblyman So said, “There are a total of 721 bereaved family members who signed the petition delivered today. This means that there are not many bereaved families left. We must pass the special law as soon as possible to heal the pain of history that has been neglected for 73 years and move toward a future of reconciliation and coexistence.” He added, “The party leader has mentioned twice the passage of the special law in February. I will do my best to ensure that the special law passes in this February National Assembly session.”

Chairperson Seo said, “The country has not been able to properly provide emotional compensation or comfort, nor raise its voice, and many years have been lost. Our National Assembly has also been quite late.” She continued, “While I am chairperson of the Administrative Safety Committee, I will investigate the pain and suffering, provide healing, and offer apologies to provide consolation and illuminate the future for descendants.”

Assemblyman Han said, “All the people who worked hard to create this bill are here. I have never seen anyone so sincerely dedicated to the enactment of the bill, visiting one by one. Please do not worry too much. It will go well.”

Kim Seung-nam, Chairperson of the Democratic Party’s Jeollanam-do Provincial Party Committee, said, “I trust Chairperson Seo Young-kyo and Whip Han Byung-do to do their best. I believe it will go well.”

Lee Gyu-jong, President of the Bereaved Families Association, said, “We have conveyed our intentions since the 16th National Assembly. Over 73 years, we have submitted countless petitions and visited the National Assembly several times. However, this is the first time the bill has reached the subcommittee in the 21st National Assembly. This is also the first public hearing.”

He continued, “We no longer have any demands. We have removed as much as possible any controversial parts such as compensation and reparations from the bill. The bereaved families only hope that the bill passes so that the truth can be fully investigated.”

The Yeosun Incident Special Act is scheduled to be discussed at the Administrative Safety Committee’s Bill Review Subcommittee 1 on the 22nd.

Assemblyman So, who is the principal proposer of the bill, is individually contacting subcommittee members to request swift passage.

Once it passes the full Administrative Safety Committee meeting, it will be referred to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for systematic and detailed review. Assemblyman So plans to expedite the review schedule as much as possible to ensure the special law passes during the March extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

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