The Most Representative Case That Led to the Nation's First Verdict on Civilian Massacres During the 6.25 War
[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The 33rd Joint Memorial Service and Commemoration Ceremony for the victims of the Geochang Incident, marking its 70th anniversary, was held on the 22nd at the Geochang Incident Memorial Park in Sinwon-myeon, Geochang-gun, Gyeongnam.
The event was hosted by the Geochang Incident Bereaved Families Association and organized by Geochang-gun, with 48 attendees including Yoon Byung-il, Director of the Past Affairs Support Division at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Yuk Seong-cheol, Administrative Officer of the Social Integration Secretariat at the Blue House, Gu In-mo, Mayor of Geochang-gun, and bereaved families from Sancheong and Hamyang.
Due to the continuation of social distancing at level 3, President Moon Jae-in, who could not attend the event, sent a floral tribute, and Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and Minister Jeon Hae-cheol of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety conveyed messages of consolation to the bereaved families through a memorial video.
Prime Minister Kim said, "As Prime Minister, I bow my head and apologize for this horrific mistake committed by our national army," adding, "The massacre of civilians is a tragedy that can never be tolerated under any circumstances."
Lee Seong-ryeol, Chairman of the Geochang Incident Victims’ Bereaved Families Association, stated, "I believe the pain of the victims and their families is a responsibility that all citizens must deeply feel and bear," urging, "I hope that a systemic foundation will be established to restore the honor of the victims and provide practical support to the bereaved families."
Gu In-mo, Mayor of Geochang-gun, emphasized, "It is time to remember history and uncover the truth to reconsider what true mourning for the victims means," and added, "True restoration of honor is compensation for the bereaved families."
An official from the Geochang Incident Office promised, "Starting next year, we will strengthen solidarity with similar incidents such as Jeju 4.3, Gwangju 5.18, Nogeun-ri, and Sancheong-Hamyang incidents, and we will do our utmost to have the Baksan Joint Burial Site and three victim locations, currently applied for registration with the Cultural Heritage Administration, designated as 'National Registered Cultural Heritage.'"
Geochang-gun operated the Geochang Incident Memorial Week in February to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Geochang Incident, and since March, it has been conducting the Geochang Incident Pilgrimage Certification event, which has received great response with about 1,000 participants.
In May, the 5th Geochang Incident Youth Literary Contest was held, and currently, a documentary exhibition is being held at the cultural relaxation space in front of the Geochang-gun Office.
Meanwhile, the Geochang Incident refers to the brutal massacre of 719 residents of Sinwon-myeon by the national army from February 9 to 11, 1951, under the pretext of suppressing communist guerrillas, which led to a ruling on civilian massacres during the Korean War.
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