Gyeonggi Province Urges Government to Take Action on Seongam Academy Harmful Excavation... Calls for Official Apology

Kim Dong-yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province (fifth from the right), recently visited the 'Seongam Hakwon Victim Support Center,' which relocated to the old Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Paldal-gu, Suwon, and took a commemorative photo with officials. Photo by Gyeonggi Province

Gyeonggi Province has clearly opposed the selection of Ansan Seongam Academy as a target site for the government-subsidized remains excavation project by local governments, stating that an official apology from the government and responsible measures must precede.

On the 13th, Gyeonggi Province issued a statement saying, "On the 9th, we submitted an official letter to the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs requesting the cancellation of the submission of the '2023 Remains Excavation Local Government Subsidy Project Demand Survey.' Nevertheless, on the 13th, the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission selected Gyeonggi Province as a subsidy project target for the Seongam Academy human rights violation case."

It continued, "Gyeonggi Province returned the subsidy project selection official letter sent by the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission, stating that the core subject responsible for the human rights violations at Seongam Academy is fundamentally the state," explaining the reason for the return.

Furthermore, it emphasized, "Gyeonggi Province holds the position that an official apology from the government and responsible measures regarding the Seongam Academy issue must come first," and "especially, it is appropriate that the remains excavation issue be led by the state."

However, the province stressed, "Gyeonggi Province has apologized for the human rights violations committed during the era of appointed governors and is promoting support projects for the victims of the Seongam Academy," adding, "We provide victims residing in the province with a monthly living stabilization support fund of 200,000 KRW, consolation money of 5 million KRW, medical services at Gyeonggi Provincial Medical Center up to 5 million KRW annually, and actual medical expenses at tertiary hospitals up to 2 million KRW annually."

In particular, it noted, "This is the first consolation money and living stabilization support at the local government level for 'state violence,'" and "Currently, 131 victims have applied for support projects in Gyeonggi Province, and the province will conduct the first review on the 17th."

Additionally, "The Seongam Academy Victim Support Center, which was located in Ansan, has been relocated to the old Gyeonggi Provincial Government building in Paldal-gu, Suwon, to support victims," and "Gyeonggi Province promises to do its best to consult with related organizations so that the state-led Seongam Academy remains excavation project can proceed swiftly."

The Seongam Academy case involved the violation of human rights of over 4,700 boys from 1942 to 1982 during the Japanese colonial period under the pretext of reforming vagrants, including forced labor, beatings, malnutrition, and harsh treatment, according to state policy.

In October last year, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs concluded that the case was a "child human rights violation by public authority" and recommended official apologies and support measures for the victims from Gyeonggi Province, which operated Seongam Academy, and the state, which implemented the illegal vagrant policy.

Accordingly, this year, Gyeonggi Province allocated a budget of 1.42 billion KRW for victim consolation money, medical expense support, installation of a memorial monument for the Seongam Academy case, and support for memorial cultural events as part of the victim support measures.