The Largest Number of Siblings Welfare Center Victims File Compensation Lawsuit Against the State

"No Voluntary National Compensation Can Be Expected"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Victims of the Hyeongjebokjiwon case are once again filing a damages lawsuit against the state. The Hyeongjebokjiwon case involved the illegal detention, forced labor, and collective beatings of innocent citizens, including socially vulnerable groups such as homeless people, youth, and disabled individuals, under the pretext of "vagrant guidance" from the 1960s to the 1980s, severely violating human rights.

Attorney Ji-won Jeong, representing the victims, announced on the 28th that he will file a damages claim lawsuit against the state on behalf of 30 victims. The 30 plaintiffs participating in the lawsuit represent the largest number of people among all damages claims related to the Hyeongjebokjiwon case filed so far. Earlier in May, 13 victims had filed a similar lawsuit. The representatives stated, "The total amount of damages claimed reaches 13.2 billion KRW," but added, "Considering the difficulties victims face in raising litigation costs such as recognition fees, we are initially claiming only one year's worth of consolation money per victim and plan to expand the claim later."

The representatives also said, "Among the victims, there is a story of a family whose life was destroyed in an instant when a 7-year-old child playing in the neighborhood was forcibly detained along with his older brother, and even their father, who came looking for his children, was forcibly detained." They added, "The victims hope to receive compensation for the suffering they endured through this lawsuit, even if only monetary, and to receive a sincere apology from the state." They further stated, "We hope that the victims can live as ordinary citizens of the Republic of Korea, no longer as victims of human rights violations." It is reported that most of the victims in this lawsuit were forcibly taken at a very young age, some not even having properly learned Hangul before the age of 10.

The Hyeongjebokjiwon case is currently under investigation as the first case accepted by the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs. Most of the victims in this lawsuit are elderly, with some currently hospitalized in nursing homes. The representatives said, "Most victims do not have time to wait for the Truth Commission's decision, which may take another 3 to 4 years," and added, "After witnessing the harsh collapse of the forced mediation agreement painstakingly arranged in the state compensation lawsuit filed by 13 victims last May, we concluded that we can no longer expect voluntary compensation from the state."

Former Hyeongjebokjiwon Detainee Personal Record Card [Image Source=Yonhap News]

Hyeongjebokjiwon was a large-scale vagrant detention facility that began as "Hyeongje Childcare Center" in 1960, followed by "Hyeongje Won" in 1971, and then "Hyeongjebokjiwon" in 1979. Based on a contract with Busan City in 1975 and Ministry of the Interior Directive No. 410, it indiscriminately detained about 3,000 socially vulnerable people such as homeless individuals, youth, and disabled persons, subjecting them to forced labor and collective beatings, violating their human rights.

In 1987, prosecutors indicted Director In-geun Park and others on charges including embezzlement and special detention, but the Supreme Court acquitted them of special detention charges, ruling that the detention was based on government directives for vagrant detention. After the current government took office, the Prosecutor's Past Affairs Committee in April 2018 recommended reinvestigation of the case, stating that the unconstitutional Ministry of the Interior directive-based vagrant detention constituted illegal confinement. Then Prosecutor General Moon Moo-il decided to file an extraordinary appeal requesting the cancellation of Director Park's acquittal. However, the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal in March. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court indicated the possibility of compensation for victims by stating, "Appropriate government measures should be taken to restore the damage and honor of the victims and their bereaved families" in relation to this case.

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