Governor Kim Dong-yeon Officially Apologizes for Child Rights Violations at Ansan's Seongam Academy

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is paying tribute and observing a moment of silence at the suspected burial site related to the Seongam Academy child rights violation case, located in Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, on the afternoon of the 19th.

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, officially apologized to the victims and bereaved families for the child human rights violations at Seongam Academy, 40 years after its closure. This is the first official apology from Gyeonggi Province following a national-level truth investigation.

Taking this apology as an opportunity, Gyeonggi Province has decided to establish a 'Comprehensive Plan for Healing and Restoring the Honor of the Seongam Academy Incident' to provide support for victims' livelihoods and medical services.

On the 20th, Governor Kim held a joint press conference with Jung Geun-sik, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs, in Seoul, stating, "Although Seongam Academy closed and disappeared 40 years ago, it was a serious state violence incident that occurred during the era of appointed governors before local autonomy was implemented. As Governor of Gyeonggi Province, I offer my deep apologies and condolences to the surviving victims and bereaved families who suffered great pain." He added, "I also mourn the souls of the victims who passed away unjustly and sincerely pray for their peace."

He continued, "In the 8th term of the elected government, Gyeonggi Province will take a responsible stance regarding the past child human rights violations at Seongam Academy and do its utmost to support the healing of victims' wounds and restoration of their honor. The Seongam Academy incident left a clear lesson that child human rights violations by state power must never be repeated. I hope this will serve as a good opportunity to advance the level of child human rights not only in Gyeonggi Province but throughout the Republic of Korea," emphasizing the point.

Following Governor Kim's official apology, the province announced the 'Comprehensive Plan for Healing and Restoring the Honor of the Seongam Academy Incident,' which includes specific support measures for victims such as ▲ livelihood support ▲ trauma relief and medical service support ▲ promotion of memorial and commemorative projects for the victims.

First, to support victims' livelihoods, the province is considering providing livelihood stabilization funds and plans to establish a Victim Support Center to systematize victim support functions.

Additionally, a trauma relief program will be operated to effectively manage victims' daily recovery and mental health, and medical service support will be strengthened.

Furthermore, the Seongam Academy burial site will be maintained to create a memorial space for the victims, and the memorial cultural festival will be expanded.

Along with this, the province will urge the National Assembly and government to promptly enact a special law on compensation and reparation for victims and bereaved families.

Since the enactment of the 'Ordinance on Support for Victims of the Seongam Academy Incident in Gyeonggi Province' in 2016, the province has annually supported the Seongam Academy memorial cultural festival. Since 2020, a Victim Reporting Center has been operating to continuously receive cases. Through this, victim counseling and treatment programs are provided, and six hospitals under the Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center fully cover patients' out-of-pocket expenses for medical fees, outpatient, and hospitalization. As of the end of September this year, medical expenses for 734 cases have been supported for 378 people.

Earlier, on the afternoon of the 19th, Governor Kim visited the Seongam History Museum, Seongam Academy Victim Reporting Center, former Seongam Academy buildings, and suspected burial sites in Ansan City to inspect victim support measures.

At the site, Governor Kim met Kim Young-bae, Chairman of the Seongam Academy Child Victim Countermeasures Council, and said, "While touring the museum, seeing the innocence of the victims smiling in the photos was very heartbreaking. Such incidents must never happen again in the Republic of Korea." He promised, "We will find sincere ways to support the bereaved families, correct the wrong history, and create an opportunity for human rights restoration through Gyeonggi Province, not just in form but in substance."

Seongam Academy was a juvenile detention center located on Seongamdo Island in Seongam-dong, Danwon-gu, Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province. Established in October 1941 under the directive of the Governor-General of Korea during the late Japanese colonial period, it first housed 200 boys in April 1942 on Seongamdo Island in Daebu-myeon, Bucheon-gun, Gyeonggi Province, and operated for 40 years until 1982, during the early period of the 5th Republic of Korea.

The Seongam Academy incident is a representative human rights violation case where over 4,700 boys were subjected to forced labor, beatings, malnutrition, and harsh treatment under the government's pretext of reforming vagrants.

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