Urging Compliance with Government Agency Recommendations... Passage of the Past Affairs Settlement Act Amendment Bill

A bill urging the practical implementation of the recommendations by the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) by state agencies has passed the National Assembly.

In October last year, at a press conference held by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Issues in Jung-gu, Seoul, announcing the decision on the truth-finding of the Seongam Academy child human rights violation case, Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is consoling the victims. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 28th, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission announced that the amendment to the Basic Act on Past Affairs for Truth and Reconciliation (Past Affairs Act) was passed at the National Assembly the previous day. The amendment will be promulgated and come into effect six months later.

According to the amendment, the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is designated as the agency responsible for managing the implementation of the recommendations. Furthermore, state agencies in charge of the recommendations must submit an implementation plan and results of actions to the Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety within three months after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s investigation report is submitted. The investigation result reports, which are prepared twice a year in the first and second halves, can now also include recommendations.

The existing presidential decree, "Regulations on the Handling of Recommendations Related to Past Affairs," determined the target for managing the implementation of recommendations through a comprehensive report published after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s activities ended. It was unclear whether individual recommendations by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission were subject to implementation management, causing victims to wait a long time for the recommendations to be implemented. Additionally, the current law only stipulates that state agencies should respect and strive to implement the recommendations but does not set deadlines or mandatory provisions related to practical implementation.

To resolve these issues, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission held the "1st Recommendation Implementation Management Meeting" on the 23rd together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Past Affairs Support Group, discussing specific implementation plans for the recommendations regarding the Sun Gam Hakwon child human rights violation case.

Kim Kwang-dong, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stated, "Until now, the recommendations made to the state as follow-up measures after the truth verification decisions were not properly implemented," adding, "With this amendment to the Past Affairs Act, we hope that state agencies will practically implement the recommendations."

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