Song Gap-seok Proposes Bill to Ensure Effectiveness of 5·18 Investigation Committee Recommendations

A bill to ensure the effectiveness and enforceability of the recommendations made by the 5·18 Democratization Movement Truth Investigation Committee has been proposed.

On the 4th, Representative Song Gap-seok (The Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Seo-gu Gap) announced that he had taken the lead in proposing a partial amendment to the Special Act on the Truth Investigation of the 5·18 Democratization Movement.

Under the current law, the provisions related to the implementation of the committee’s recommendations based on the investigation results are insufficient to guarantee substantial enforceability, raising concerns that active follow-up measures based on the truth investigation may be difficult.

Additionally, since the committee limits the notification recipients of decisions or dispositions to only the ‘applicants for the truth investigation,’ those subjects of investigation who are deemed necessary to be notified cannot be informed of the committee’s decisions.

It was also pointed out that the committee’s activity period and the term of its members do not coincide for up to six months, which could cause disruptions in the preparation and submission of the comprehensive report.

The proposed amendment mandates that the relevant national agencies report their implementation plans or results of actions regarding the recommendations to the National Assembly, expands the scope of notification recipients for investigation results, and aligns the committee’s duration with the terms of its members.

Representative Song emphasized, “As this is the first investigation to adopt a national report on the 5·18 Democratization Movement truth investigation, the preparation of a substantive comprehensive report is indispensable,” adding, “We will ensure accountability for the implementation of recommendations by requiring national agencies to report their implementation plans or results to the National Assembly within six months from the reporting date.”

This amendment bill was jointly proposed by 20 members including Kim Kyung-man, Kim Nam-guk, Min Hyung-bae, Song Ki-heon, Shin Jeong-hoon, Yang Hyang-ja, Eo Gi-gu, Oh Young-hwan, Yoon Young-duk, Lee Dong-joo, Lee Seong-man, Lee So-young, Lee Yong-bin, Lee Yong-woo, Lee Won-wook, Lee Hyung-seok, Jo Oh-seop, Choi Ki-sang, and Choi Hye-young.