[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the 30th, Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok visited the Yeosu Manheung-dong Yeosun Incident Victims Memorial Monument and, together with Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, paid respects at the memorial. He also requested active support for five major pending issues, including the designation of the Yeosun Incident as a national memorial day.
This was the first time the People Power Party leadership stood before the victims' memorial since the "Special Act for the Restoration of Honor and Truth Investigation of the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident" was promulgated following approval by the Cabinet.
The memorial ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere with the participation of People Power Party Policy Committee Chairman Kim Do-eup, Party Secretary-General Seo Beom-su, Special Committee Chairman for National Integration Jeong Un-cheon, National Assembly member Kim Jeong-jae, and Yeosu Mayor Kwon Oh-bong.
Governor Kim expressed gratitude to Lee, the People Power Party leader, for the party's active cooperation in passing the special law through bipartisan agreement, fulfilling the long-standing wish of the residents.
He added, "While the passage of the special law is meaningful, further truth investigation and restoration of honor are necessary. I hope the National Assembly will also lend its support, and if anything is needed, I will propose it to the People Power Party."
He also proposed and explained the necessity of five urgent issues to Lee, including ▲ the designation of the "Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident" as a national memorial day ▲ establishment of a national medical university in Jeollanam-do ▲ enactment of a special law for the establishment of an integrated permit organization for offshore wind power ▲ introduction of the "Hometown Love Donation System" ▲ expansion of taxation on the "Local Resource Facility Tax."
In particular, he emphasized, "Although the special law was enacted through bipartisan agreement after 20 years of National Assembly discussions on the Yeosu-Suncheon October 19 Incident, most of the bereaved families have passed away or are elderly, making the restoration of honor urgent. To comfort the families, even before the special law is implemented, the incident should be designated as a national memorial day like the Jeju 4.3 Incident, and a state-sponsored memorial ceremony should be held."
He continued, "Please empower the regions for national balanced development. To this end, Jeonnam, the only province without a medical school among cities and provinces, needs the establishment of a national medical university, and the introduction of the Hometown Love Donation System and expansion of taxation on local resource facility tax are necessary to resolve local fiscal imbalances."
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