"Ten Apologies to the Late Private Hong Jeong-gi's Mother"
Promise for Prompt Passage of the State Compensation Act Amendment
"Minister, the eyes I see behind your glasses and the eyes behind my son's glasses look similar."
On the afternoon of the 15th at the Government Complex Gwacheon, Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon shed tears upon hearing these words during a meeting with Park Mi-sook, the mother of a fallen soldier.
That day, the meeting between Minister Han and Ms. Park regarding the 'Amendment to the State Compensation Act' lasted about an hour. During the meeting, Ms. Park appealed for justice regarding her son's wrongful death and conveyed the feelings of parents who lost their children under suspicious military circumstances. Ms. Park held a portrait of her son in military uniform. Her son, the late Private Hong Jeong-gi, contracted acute leukemia during his military service in 2016 but passed away due to lack of timely treatment.
Ms. Park said, "The state must stop the act of parents wandering the streets holding their children's portraits. That is the minimum duty the state owes to parents who trusted the country and sent their children off." She added, "Seeing the Minister understand that pain and promise to amend the law gave me great comfort. I wondered if the state is now functioning properly and if I can live with some solace." She continued, "Jeong-gi's grandmother is in the final stage of cancer and is losing consciousness. I want to tell her, 'Go peacefully and meet Jeong-gi. His honor has been fully restored.' I came here with that hope. I never dreamed I would be the first to receive an apology from the Minister of Justice."
Minister Han responded, "I can apologize ten times over." He also promised the swift passage of the amendment to the State Compensation Act, saying, "This will be an opportunity to change how the country treats its young people."
Private Hong was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia after enlisting in 2015 but did not receive proper treatment such as transfer to a higher-level hospital. He died seven months after enlistment in March 2016. The bereaved family filed a damages lawsuit demanding compensation beyond the death benefit, holding the military responsible for failing to provide proper diagnosis and treatment. However, the court ruled against the plaintiffs, citing the possibility of double compensation, and the appeal is currently underway.
Minister Han repeatedly pledged to do his best to ensure the swift passage of the amendment, which allows families of soldiers and police officers who died in the line of duty to claim damages from the state.
Minister Han said, "Usually, when a law changes, it does not apply retroactively, but we included a provision so that ongoing lawsuits are also covered. This law was made with Private Hong in mind." He added, "The importance of this law is not only for Private Hong but also because after proposing the amendment, I received many thank-you letters from people in similar situations. Many are waiting and hoping for this law. I promise to deliver an answer. I believe this law will be a turning point in how our country treats its young people."
On the 15th, Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice, met with Park Mi-sook, the mother of the late Private Hong Jeong-gi. [Photo by Ministry of Justice, Yonhap News]
Minister Han's eyes welled up as he listened to Ms. Park's story.
Ms. Park said, "The eyes behind the Minister's glasses and the eyes behind my son's glasses are similar. He was a truly righteous child, a steadfast child. It feels like my son is telling his mother to put an end to these matters, and I think the Minister has accepted that." Minister Han then looked at Private Hong's photo and said, "He looks similar to me," wiping away tears.
Minister Han continued, "You have endured a lot until now, and this issue will be resolved. The amendment is just the beginning, and once the law is amended, it will be considered in lawsuits. We are working hard to pass this law quickly. The courts will also understand the speed and circumstances of the legal amendment." Hearing this, Ms. Park smiled and said, "No one has ever promised to believe and help me before. This is the first time."
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice submitted the amendment to the State Compensation Act to the National Assembly two months ago (October 25). However, the bill has yet to be submitted to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee.
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