Jeonnam Province's Initiative Plays Key Role in 'Yeosun Incident Bereaved Families Testimony Recording Project'

Utilization of Official Data for Determining Victims and Bereaved Families of the Yeosun Incident

[Muan=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Jeonnam Province's 'Yeosun Incident Bereaved Families Testimony Recording Project' is proving to be highly effective.

According to the province on the 15th, the 'Yeosun Incident Bereaved Families Testimony Recording Project' is being used not only to preserve records of the incident but also as important official data to determine the victims and bereaved families of the Yeosun Incident.

This project was initiated to directly hear and vividly record testimonies about the damage experienced by victims and bereaved families who experienced the Yeosun Incident either directly or indirectly, in preparation for fact-finding investigations, victim and bereaved family determinations, and for use as historical educational materials.

The project, which began in September 2020, will continue until November of this year.

Through a service contract with Suncheon National University’s 10·19 Research Institute, the first phase was completed by October last year with 302 people, and the second phase is currently underway targeting 150 people.

Considering the long period of over 70 years since the Yeosun Incident and the advanced age of the bereaved families, the province recognized the importance of this project even before the enactment of the special law and prepared by receiving prior applications from 640 people who knew about the damage through city, county, and township offices. However, the project was slightly delayed due to the spread of COVID-19.

The testimony records secured through the recording project are used as important evidence for determining victims and bereaved families.

Especially from the second half of this year, the recorded testimonies will be analyzed and used for campaigns to find relatives of the Yeosun Incident, production of historical fact videos about the Yeosun Incident, record preservation for public interest, and educational materials.

Park Jongpil, head of the Jeonnam Province Yeosun Incident Support Group, said, “It is painful even to recall the heartbreaking stories of that time, so I sincerely thank the bereaved families who took the time to participate in the testimonies,” and added, “The recorded testimonies of the bereaved families will be valuable for accurately informing about the Yeosun Incident, thorough fact-finding, and as evidence for determining victims and bereaved families.”

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