Pursuing Truth Clarification and Honor Restoration for the 73rd Anniversary of the Yeosun Incident and the 61st Anniversary of the March 15 Uprising

Resolution on the Enactment of the Yeosun Incident Act and the March 15 Uprising Act Approved by the Cabinet Meeting

Heo Seok, Mayor of Suncheon, Pays Tribute at Yeosu-Suncheon Uprising Memorial Tower

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 13th that the promulgation bills for the "Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth and Restoration of Honor for the Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident" and the "Act on the Restoration of Honor for Participants in the March 15 Uprising," which were passed by the National Assembly in June, have passed the Cabinet meeting.

The "Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident" refers to an event on October 19, 1948, in the Yeosu region of Jeollanam-do, where some soldiers stationed there refused orders to suppress the Jeju 4·3 Incident and initiated a rebellion, resulting in numerous civilian casualties during the armed conflict and suppression process. The March 15 Uprising was a democratization movement that took place on March 15, 1960, in the Masan area (Changwon City), Gyeongsangnam-do, protesting against election fraud and served as a catalyst for the April 19 Revolution.

With the enactment of these laws, it is expected that after 73 years since the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident and 61 years since the March 15 Uprising, the nation will be able to heal the wounds of modern Korean history through a state-level investigation of the truth and restoration of honor, alleviating the deep-seated grievances of bereaved families who have endured years of suffering.

The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Act, which passed the Cabinet meeting, establishes the "Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident Truth Investigation and Victims' Honor Restoration Committee" under the Prime Minister and a working committee under the Governor of Jeollanam-do to conduct fact-finding and deliberations for investigating the background and development of the incident and restoring the honor of victims. The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Committee will consist of up to 15 members, including the Chairperson (Prime Minister) and Vice-Chairperson (Minister of the Interior and Safety), with political neutrality explicitly prioritized when appointing or commissioning members. The working committee, including the Chairperson (Governor of Jeollanam-do), will also consist of up to 15 members and assist the committee by receiving reports and conducting investigations.

The truth investigation report submission period will last one year from the formation of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Committee, and the investigation activities, including data collection and analysis, will continue for two years from the date the initial investigation decision is made. The committee may issue a summons if a subject fails to appear three or more times and impose a fine of up to 10 million KRW for failure to comply without justifiable reasons, thereby strengthening the effectiveness of the investigation. Additionally, the committee must prepare and disclose a final report within six months after the investigation concludes.

Furthermore, the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Act allows for correction of family relationship registries that were not created or were incorrectly recorded due to the incident, while also establishing a basis for commemorative projects to heal the pain of victims and bereaved families and to reflect on the historical significance.

The March 15 Uprising Act mandates that the investigation of the truth regarding the March 15 Uprising be conducted by the "Past Affairs Truth and Reconciliation Commission," which was reestablished in December 2020 under the "Framework Act on Truth and Reconciliation for Past Affairs." It provides a basis for delegating or jointly conducting parts of the investigation to local governments if necessary and facilitates efficient reception of reports and investigation activities through cooperation with Changwon City, where the uprising occurred.

Additionally, requirements such as summons and accompaniment orders for investigation subjects will follow the Past Affairs Act, and upon conclusion of the investigation, a report will be submitted to the President and the National Assembly. The law also includes provisions for special retrials, allowing those convicted related to the March 15 Uprising to restore their honor through retrial requests, and establishes a basis for commemorative projects to inherit the spirit of the March 15 Uprising.

The bills will be promulgated after the President's approval and will take effect six months after promulgation, starting from January 2022.

Minister Jeon Hae-cheol stated, "The enactment of laws for the investigation of the truth and restoration of honor regarding the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, a painful chapter in modern Korean history, and the March 15 Uprising, the starting point of the democratization movement, is very meaningful," adding, "We will make every effort to prepare enforcement decrees and other follow-up measures to ensure the smooth operation of the enacted laws and cooperate with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and related local governments to ensure thorough investigation and restoration of honor."

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