Assemblyman So Byeong-cheol: "The Passage of the Yeosun Incident Special Act Marks the Beginning of a History of Harmony and Integration"

Passage of the 'Yeosun Incident Special Act' in the National Assembly on the 29th

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Hyung-kwon] The “Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Honor for the Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident” (hereinafter referred to as the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」), which will resolve the 73-year-old deep-seated grievance of the residents of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do beyond Suncheon and Yeosu, passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th.

Immediately after the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」 passed the National Assembly plenary session, Democratic Party lawmaker So Byung-chul (Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, Gurye (Gap), Legislation and Judiciary Committee) expressed his thoughts, saying, “The Yeosun Incident Special Act, which passed the National Assembly plenary session virtually unanimously between the ruling and opposition parties, will be the starting point for a great new history of harmony and integration.”

The 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」 was proposed a total of eight times over 20 years since the 16th National Assembly, with 283 lawmakers co-sponsoring it, but it failed to pass the National Assembly.

Political circles inside and outside agree that the key to overcoming the 20-year legislative barrier and resolving the 73-year-old grievance was lawmaker So Byung-chul’s meticulous preparation from drafting the bill and his relentless determination, pushing forward like an ox.

During the last general election, So led an agreement ceremony with lawmakers from the eastern region of Jeollanam-do (Kim Hoe-jae, Seo Dong-yong, Joo Cheol-hyun) to jointly promote the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」, collected opinions from bereaved families, academia, and research institutes, and personally drafted the bill word by word, finally submitting it as the main proposer on July 28 last year.

On September 10 last year, the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」 was referred to the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee (hereinafter, the PAS Committee), and on December 7, it achieved the milestone of holding the first-ever legislative public hearing hosted by the PAS Committee.

During this process, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the related government department, maintained the position of handling the Yeosun Incident through the “2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Past Affairs,” causing a stalemate in the bill’s progress. However, So persuaded Minister Jeon Hae-cheol of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety through direct negotiations, leading to a change in the ministry’s stance and accelerating the review process.

Subsequently, So unusually underwent two rounds of detailed examination, persuading PAS Committee members from both ruling and opposition parties and directly appealing for the necessity of enacting the special law through speaking requests.

On April 22, the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」 barely passed the subcommittee, but on the morning of the day it was scheduled to be presented at the PAS Committee plenary meeting on the 16th, its passage was uncertain due to opposition party members’ disagreements.

After marathon negotiations with opposition lawmakers, So dramatically produced a revised draft and led the bill to pass unanimously at the PAS Committee plenary meeting, achieving a remarkable feat.

So’s efforts continued until the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」, having passed the PAS Committee plenary meeting, was submitted to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee (hereinafter, the Legislation Committee).

He earnestly requested the Democratic Party’s floor leadership, including party leader Song Young-gil, and Democratic Party Legislation Committee members, including floor leader Park Joo-min, to ensure the bill’s passage within the 21st National Assembly by the June session.

He also personally delivered letters to People Power Party Legislation Committee members, explaining the necessity of the special law and emphasizing the significance of its unanimous passage in the PAS Committee, actively persuading them.

Thanks to So’s efforts, the 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」 was unanimously agreed upon and passed by the Legislation Committee on the 25th.

The 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」, which had been stalled for 20 years, surged forward in less than a year after its proposal and passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 29th.

This is why lawmaker So Byung-chul’s extraordinary efforts to turn the impossible into possible have drawn attention.

The 「Yeosun Incident Special Act」 includes the following provisions: ▲ Establishing the “Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident Truth Investigation and Victims’ Honor Restoration Committee” under the Prime Minister to deliberate and decide on the investigation of the truth and restoration of honor for the Yeosun Incident, and establishing and operating the “Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident Truth Investigation and Victims’ Honor Restoration Working Committee” under the Governor of Jeollanam-do to handle practical affairs, with political neutrality as the top priority in the composition of each committee ▲ Receiving reports within one year from the date the working committee is formed and completing the collection and analysis of materials related to the truth investigation within two years from the start of the initial investigation ▲ Providing medical support funds and living support funds for victims requiring treatment ▲ Supporting expenses for memorial services to honor the victims of the Yeosun Incident, utilizing the site for education on peace and human rights, and facilitating memorial rites, among others.

Immediately after the bill passed the National Assembly plenary session, So said, “I cannot express today’s emotion in words,” emphasizing, “Today marks the end of the 73-year-old deep-seated grievance and the frustration of eight failed attempts to pass the bill in the National Assembly over 20 years.” He sincerely bowed his head to offer consolation and gratitude to the victims and bereaved families who endured for a long time.

He continued, “Today will be remembered as another historic day when the Republic of Korea moves beyond ideology and confrontation toward coexistence and harmony,” and expressed gratitude to former Democratic Party leader Lee Nak-yeon, former floor leader Kim Tae-nyeon, party leader Song Young-gil, floor leader Yoon Ho-jung, PAS Committee Chair Seo Young-kyo who led the bill’s passage, Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young-rok who showed great interest and effort in the special law’s enactment, and People Power Party floor leader Kim Ki-hyun who made a magnanimous decision.

In particular, he thanked Lee Kyu-jong, chairman of the Yeosun Incident Bereaved Families Association, and Park So-jung, representative of the National Coalition for the Enactment of the Yeosun Law, who supported him throughout, and pledged to devote himself unwaveringly until the bereaved families’ honor is restored and the pain of the Yeosun Incident is healed.

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