Gwangju City Receives Applications for Truth Investigation into Anti-Democratic and Anti-Human Rights Acts in Past Cases

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 14th that it will accept ‘Truth Investigation Application Forms’ for cases requiring truth verification following the enforcement of the Act on the Investigation of Past Incidents for Truth and Reconciliation since December last year.

The application period for truth investigation is from December 10 of last year to December 9 of next year. Applicants can fill out the application form and submit it in person at the nearest city, county, or district office, provincial office, or the Truth and Reconciliation Commission located in Seoul, or submit it by mail.

The scope of truth investigation includes ▲anti-Japanese independence movements carried out during or immediately before the Japanese colonial period ▲overseas compatriot affairs that contributed to national power enhancement from the Japanese colonial period until December 1, 2005 ▲illegal mass civilian sacrifice incidents before and after the Korean War following liberation ▲deaths, injuries, disappearances, and other serious human rights violations or suspected fabrications caused by unlawful or unjust public authority until the authoritarian rule period after liberation ▲terrorism, human rights violations, violence, massacres, suspicious deaths, and other incidents related to hostile forces by state enemies until the authoritarian rule period after liberation.

However, cases such as the Buma Democratic Uprising, the May 18 Democratic Movement, the Jeju 4.3 Incident, and cases with final court rulings, which are being investigated under individual laws, are excluded from the application.

Eligibility to apply includes ▲victims, sufferers, or their bereaved families ▲those related by kinship to victims, sufferers, or their bereaved families ▲those who experienced or witnessed the truth investigation cases ▲those who directly heard from persons who experienced or witnessed the truth investigation cases.

As of the 11th, a total of 61 cases have been received: 3 in Gwangju City, 15 in Dong-gu, 16 in Seo-gu, 4 in Nam-gu, 19 in Buk-gu, and 4 in Gwangsan-gu. By case type, mass civilian sacrifice incidents are the most numerous with 35 cases, followed by hostile force-related incidents from liberation to the authoritarian rule period (12 cases), and human rights violations or suspected fabrications (9 cases).

Kim Yong-man, Director of the City’s Democracy and Human Rights Division, said, “Through this application and acceptance process for past truth investigations, we will strive to resolve past issues and contribute to national unity through reconciliation with the past.”

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