Jeonnam Provincial Council Holds 'Discussion Forum Urging Amendment of Yeosun Incident Act'

The Planning and Administration Committee of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Council announced on the 9th that it held a "Discussion Forum to Urge the Amendment of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Act" at Paru Hall, Suncheon National University.

The forum was organized to urge the 22nd National Assembly to amend the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Act, with about 200 attendees including Seo Dong-wook, chairman of the Jeollanam-do Provincial Council, provincial council members, elected members of the National Assembly Kim Moon-soo and Kwon Hyang-yeop, and the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Bereaved Families Association.

The Planning and Administration Committee of the Jeonnam Provincial Council held a forum to urge the 22nd National Assembly to amend the Yeosun Incident Act. Photo by Jeonnam Provincial Council

The forum, chaired by Committee Chairman Shin Min-ho, proceeded with a keynote presentation by Im Song-bon, chairman of the Truth Investigation Committee of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 National Solidarity, followed by designated discussions.

Discussants included Seo Jang-soo, president of the Yeosu Bereaved Families Association; Park Jong-gil and Choi Kyung-pil, members of the Practical Committee for the Truth Investigation and Honor Restoration of Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident; Professor Cho Seung-hyun of Korea National Open University; and Kim Yong-deok, head of the Jeollanam-do Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Support Group.

Im Song-bon, who delivered the keynote, pointed out, "The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Act faced a difficult legislative process, so after its enactment, we had no choice but to opt for a pragmatic approach to supplement the law."

He also evaluated the activities during the two years since the enforcement of the Yeosu-Suncheon Special Act, identified issues, reviewed the amendment proposals discussed in the National Assembly so far, and presented amendment items such as extending the reporting and truth investigation periods, conducting investigations ex officio, and providing medical and living support funds to bereaved families.

Committee Chairman Shin Min-ho said, "The Special Act on the Truth Investigation and Honor Restoration of Victims of the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident has undergone two partial amendments since its enactment in July 2021, but only one substantive amendment has been made. Although many amendment bills for the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Act have been proposed, none have seen the light of day, and with the end of the 21st National Assembly's term, they are on the path to automatic expiration."

He added, "The law must be promptly amended for the complete resolution of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident. We will convey the enthusiasm of this forum to the National Assembly so that the 22nd National Assembly can vigorously advance the truth investigation and honor restoration of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident."