Where Has the Historical Reckoning Gone... Presidential Election Missing Democracy and Human Rights Restoration

Only One Line Mentioning Historical Issues in the Democratic Party's Manifesto... Compared to the 19th Presidential Election
Organizations Struggling with Overwhelming Cases and Lack of Personnel
"Government Must Actively Address Cases with Government Responsibility"

On the morning of the 27th, bereaved families and others are organizing photos of the Sewol Ferry disaster victims at the Sewol Ferry Memorial Space in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. On this day, the bereaved families moved items from the memorial space to a temporary space set up at the Seoul Metropolitan Council. 2021. 7. 27

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Although issues related to past history and social disasters that still need to be resolved remain, related pledges are disappearing from the 20th presidential election. There are concerns that the momentum to resolve past history and social disaster issues may fade in the future.

According to an analysis by this paper on the 2nd, the presidential candidates from the Democratic Party of Korea, People Power Party, People Party, and Justice Party running in the 20th presidential election did not make pledges related to the Special Investigation Commission on Social Disasters (Sacheomwi), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Issues (Jinsilhwahewi), or the 5.18 Democratization Movement Truth Investigation Commission (5.18 Josawi). Sacheomwi deals with the humidifier disinfectant disaster and the April 16 Sewol ferry disaster, Jinsilhwahewi addresses human rights violations that occurred in modern and contemporary history, and 5.18 Josawi investigates the truth behind the May 18 Democratization Movement.

In the Democratic Party of Korea’s presidential pledge book, only one line related to past history could be found. The Democratic Party pledged to “strengthen the functions of the Past Issues Commission to enable the discovery and investigation of past history, preparation of support measures, and restoration of victims’ honor.”

The People Party and Justice Party did not present comprehensive policies related to past history and social disasters. However, they announced pledges related to Jeju Island, aiming to investigate the ‘Jeju 4.3 Incident.’ The People Party plans to pursue a complete resolution of the Jeju 4.3 Incident and establish a trauma healing center. The Justice Party showed a relatively more proactive stance by proposing to change compensation under the Jeju 4.3 Special Act to reparations and rename it the ‘Jeju 4.3 Uprising.’

The People Power Party did not prepare any related pledges at all. Compensation for victims was generally focused on veterans of the Korean War and the Vietnam War. However, regarding the Jeju 4.3 Incident, on the 5th, Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party’s presidential candidate, stated during his visit to Jeju Island that appropriate compensation would be provided to the victims’ families.

Compared to the previous presidential election, it is analyzed that the political sphere has become more passive in resolving past history and social disaster issues. When Moon Jae-in was a presidential candidate, he created a separate category called ‘Democracy and Human Rights Restoration’ and placed it at the front of his pledge book. He also pledged to establish legal grounds for relief and support for victims and families of torture by public authority and to improve laws and systems related to past history clearance.

Related organizations continue to achieve results with government support. Sacheomwi revealed government responsibility in the humidifier disinfectant disaster, Jinsilhwahewi uncovered massacres during the Korean War, and 5.18 Josawi clarified the command system for the shooting orders during the May 18 Democratization Movement. However, as past history and social disaster issues are overshadowed by other agendas, these organizations cannot hide their concerns that government support may decrease in the future. A Jinsilhwahewi official said, “There are still 13,235 applications for truth investigation currently received, so there is a long way to go, but manpower is insufficient,” adding, “Many people still suffer from past history damages and need relief from the state.”

Park Hye-jung, representative of the Association of Victims Confirmed to Have Been Exposed to Humidifier Disinfectants, said, “This government also emphasized victim recovery, but the situation remains unresolved,” and added, “Since these are incidents for which the government is responsible, whichever presidential candidate wins, the future government must act more proactively.”

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