Gwangju Mountaineers "Cancellation Needed for Claiming Reimbursement of Rescue Costs for Late Captain Kim Hong-bin"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Mountaineers from the Gwangju Metropolitan City Mountaineering Federation have urged the government to cancel its claim for reimbursement of the rescue costs for the late Captain Kim Hong-bin.

On the 21st, the Gwangju Mountaineering Federation stated in a press release, “Captain Kim’s climb was not for personal gain but was recognized by the nation as enhancing national prestige,” and requested, “Therefore, please reconsider the government’s claim for reimbursement by amending the related law, the ‘Consular Assistance Act for Overseas Koreans.’”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently billed the Gwangju Mountaineering Federation 68 million KRW for the search and rescue costs incurred during Captain Kim’s disappearance last year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs cited Article 19 of the Consular Assistance Act, which states that “overseas Koreans must bear the costs for protecting their life, body, and property, and must repay the costs claimed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”

The statement calling for the cancellation of the government’s claim for reimbursement of Captain Kim’s rescue costs has been echoed not only by mountaineers in the Gwangju area but also by the Korea Alpine Federation and mountaineering organizations from 17 cities and provinces.

Additionally, lawmakers from the Gwangju region recently urged the government to cancel the claim for reimbursement.

Democratic Party lawmakers Song Gap-seok, Yoon Young-duk, Lee Byung-hoon, Lee Yong-bin, Lee Hyung-seok, Jo Oh-seop, Kim Kyung-man (proportional representation), Justice Party lawmaker Kang Eun-mi (proportional representation), and independent lawmakers Min Hyung-bae and Yang Hyang-ja issued a press release stating, “We have proposed a bill to amend the ‘Consular Assistance Act for Overseas Koreans’ to block the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ claim for reimbursement regarding the late Captain Kim Hong-bin.”

The lawmakers explained, “Captain Kim’s climb was not for personal profit, and since the nation recognized it as enhancing national prestige, an exception clause is necessary,” adding, “The amendment includes provisions to exempt repayment of overseas emergency costs incurred by those who received government medals and acted for the purpose of enhancing national prestige.”

Pi Gil-yeon, president of the Mountaineering Federation, said, “Captain Kim Hong-bin is a mountaineer from our region who has shown dreams and hope to the people so far,” and added, “Since his merits have been recognized with the government-awarded Sports Medal of Blue Dragon and his selection as a 2021 Korea Sports Hero, the government’s claim for reimbursement should be canceled.”

He continued, “I appeal to all, including athletes, to take interest and participate so that Captain Kim’s tragic rest will not be in vain.”

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