Yeosu Civic Groups Urge Amendment of the 'Yeosun Incident Special Act'

Statement on Extension of Deadline for Fact-Finding

The voices of the local community are growing louder in urging the amendment of the Special Act on the Truth Investigation and Restoration of Honor for the Victims of the Yeosu·Suncheon 10·19 Incident (hereinafter referred to as the Yeosun Incident Special Act).

The Citizens' Promotion Committee for the Support Project for Victims of the Yeosu·Suncheon 10·19 Incident (hereinafter the Citizens' Promotion Committee), Yeosu City Council, bereaved families' associations, security and veterans' organizations, religious groups, cultural and artistic organizations, and 33 civic groups in the Yeosu area issued a statement on the 23rd calling for an extension of the investigation period for the truth-finding of the Yeosun Incident.

The Citizens' Promotion Committee for the Support Project for Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident, along with the Yeosu City Council, bereaved families' association, security and veterans organizations, religious groups, and cultural and artistic organizations, totaling 33 civic groups in the Yeosu area, issued a statement on the 23rd urging the "Extension of the Investigation Period for the Truth-Finding of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident."
Photo by Yeosu City

According to Yeosu City, since the enactment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act and the initial designation of 45 victims and 214 bereaved families on October 7, 2022, only 9.4% (708 cases) of the 7,546 reported damage cases have been finally reviewed. It is practically impossible to complete the review by the current legal deadline of October 5 for the truth investigation.

Accordingly, the Citizens' Promotion Committee held a plenary meeting and two working committee meetings last month on the 27th and issued a statement urging the extension of the fact-finding investigation period.

The participating organizations include the Citizens' Promotion Committee, ▲Yeosu City Council ▲Yeosu Bereaved Families Association of the Yeosun Incident ▲Bereaved Families Association of Police Officers Killed in the Line of Duty in the Yeosun Incident ▲Jeonnam Branch Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea Medal of Honor Recipients Association ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea 6·25 War Veterans Association ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea Disabled Veterans Association Jeonnam Branch ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea War Dead Families Association ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea War Widows Association ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea Retired Police Officers Association ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Republic of Korea Veterans of the Agent Orange Association ▲Jeonnam Branch Yeosu Chapter of the Republic of Korea Vietnam War Veterans Association ▲Yeosu City Veterans Association ▲Yeosu City Women Veterans Association ▲Yeosu City Chapter of the Korea Freedom Federation ▲Yeosu City Chapter Women’s Association of the Korea Freedom Federation ▲Yeosu Participation Solidarity ▲Yeosu Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice ▲Yeosu Civic Groups Solidarity Conference ▲Yeosu YMCA ▲Yeosu YWCA ▲Yeosu Citizens' Association, totaling 33 organizations.

Shin Ji-young, Chairperson of the Citizens' Promotion Committee, stated, “This statement has drawn out our society’s aspiration for the amendment of the Yeosun Incident Special Act. We hope that the truth of the incident will be properly investigated as soon as possible and that the honor of the victims and their families will be promptly restored.”

Meanwhile, the Citizens' Promotion Committee is composed of 22 members, including bereaved families of the Yeosun Incident victims, bereaved families of police and military personnel killed in the line of duty, city council members, security and veterans' organizations, civic groups, legal professionals, religious leaders, cultural and artistic figures, and media representatives. They are engaged in various activities to deliberate and decide on the support project for victims of the Yeosun Incident, advocate for amendments to the Special Act, promote follow-up projects such as the establishment of a Peace Park, and foster an atmosphere of coexistence and reconciliation among local residents.

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