Jeonnam Province Welcomes Passage of 'Yeosun Incident Special Act' Fulfilling 73 Years of Local Residents' Wishes

Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeollanam-do

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province expressed its welcome as the 'Yeosu·Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act,' a 73-year-long local residents' aspiration for the truth investigation and restoration of honor for the victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, passed the first hurdle of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee bill review subcommittee on the 22nd.

According to Jeonnam Province on the 23rd, the 'Yeosu·Suncheon 10·19 Incident Special Act' was first proposed during the 16th National Assembly in 2000 but was automatically discarded at the end of the session after only discussions. It failed to be enacted four times as it stalled at the standing committee stage during the 18th, 19th, and 20th National Assemblies.

This time, having passed the first hurdle for the fifth time, the possibility of enactment has increased.

In particular, it shares a historical trajectory with the fully revised 'Jeju 4·3 Incident Special Act' enacted last February, drawing attention not only from bereaved families but also many residents of the province.

Once enacted, activities to investigate the truth of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident and restore the honor of the victims are expected to gain momentum.

Since the bill was submitted, Kim Young-rok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, has made several visits to the leadership of the National Assembly regardless of party lines, the Public Administration and Security Committee, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, explaining the justification and necessity of the bill's enactment.

On the 22nd, when the bill subcommittee meeting was held, Song Sang-rak, Deputy Governor of Jeonnam Province, visited offices of both ruling and opposition party lawmakers to explain the necessity of passing the bill and made every effort, including one-on-one persuasion of opposition lawmakers entering the meeting room.

Additionally, Seo Young-kyo (Democratic Party of Korea, Jungnang-gu Gap, Seoul), Chairperson of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee, frequently checked the bill's passage by moving in and out of the meeting room despite a tight schedule. So Byeong-cheol (Democratic Party of Korea, Suncheon-Gwangyang-Gokseong-Gurye Gap), the bill's principal sponsor, stayed until the end to persuade lawmakers from both parties to pass the bill when the review process was deadlocked.

Lawmakers from the eastern region of Jeonnam who took the lead in proposing and supporting the bill, along with members of the Public Administration and Security Committee's bill subcommittee, shared the bereaved families' aspirations at every meeting, saying, "We can no longer delay the wishes of the bereaved."

Governor Kim Young-rok stated, "We will maintain vigilance and continue efforts to ensure the bill passes through the standing committee, the judiciary committee, and finally the plenary session."

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