Former Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Jang Man-chae Welcomes Passage of Yeosun Incident Special Act in National Assembly Plenary Session

Operation of the Truth Investigation and Victims' Honor Restoration Committee under the Prime Minister's Office

Representative So Byeong-cheol of Suncheon leads the bill, fruition after over 20 years of efforts

Former Jeonnam Education Super

Jang Man-chae, former Jeonnam Superintendent of Education.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Chunsu] After 73 years since the incident occurred, the 'Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Special Act,' which will be the first step toward uncovering the truth and restoring honor by removing the stigma of 'rebellion,' has finally passed the National Assembly plenary session amid the expectations of residents in the eastern Jeonnam region, including Yeosu and Suncheon.

On the 29th, the National Assembly held a plenary session and approved the 'Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Honor for the Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident,' which was introduced by Representative So Byeongcheol of the Democratic Party of Korea (Jeonnam Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye Gap), with 225 votes in favor out of 231 members present.

The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Special Act, which includes the restoration of honor for the victims and the investigation of the truth, passed the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on June 16, then the Judiciary Committee on the 25th, and finally the plenary session on the 29th. As a result, the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, recorded as a tragedy in modern history, will now enter a full-scale process of truth investigation after 73 years.

The bill establishes a Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Truth Investigation and Victims' Honor Restoration Committee under the Prime Minister's Office to conduct the investigation, and stipulates that the state shall provide medical expenses to victims or their bereaved families.

The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Special Act was proposed four times starting from the 16th National Assembly in 2001 but was automatically discarded due to expiration of the term while pending in standing committees. Last July, Representative So Byeongcheol from Suncheon reintroduced the bill, and with the Democratic Party of Korea's promise to enact the special law at the party level, the process gained momentum.

The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident occurred on October 19, 1948, when some soldiers of the 14th Regiment of the Defense Guard stationed in Yeosu, Jeonnam, refused the government's order to suppress the 'Jeju 4·3 Incident.' The ensuing armed conflict and suppression caused significant damage, including about 10,000 civilian casualties.

Former Jeonnam Superintendent of Education Jang Man-chae warmly welcomed the passage of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Special Act in the National Assembly plenary session, saying, “I hope this special law will serve as a turning point to correct the unjust and painful history of the citizens in the Suncheon and Yeosu areas.” He emphasized, “Restoring the honor of the wronged victims should be an opportunity to move forward into the future through reconciliation with the past.”

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