Assemblyman Min Hyung-bae Proposes Three Bills Addressing Gwangju Regional Issues

Court Establishment Act, Debtor Rehabilitation Act, and Consular Assistance Act

All Local Members of the National Assembly Jointly Propose, Drawing Attention

Min Hyung-bae, Member of the National Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea·Gwangju Gwangsan-gu B), on the 10th, took the lead in proposing three bills related to local issues in the Gwangju area.

With all Gwangju lawmakers jointly participating in the co-proposal of the bills, the Gwangju representatives are being recognized for tackling local issues as a ‘one team.’

The amendment bills led by Assemblyman Min include ▲ the Act on the Establishment and Jurisdiction of Courts at Each Level (hereinafter the Court Establishment Act), ▲ the Debtor Rehabilitation and Bankruptcy Act (Debtor Rehabilitation Act), and ▲ the Consular Assistance Act for the Protection of Overseas Koreans (Consular Assistance Act).

The Court Establishment Act and the Debtor Rehabilitation Act include provisions to newly establish a rehabilitation court in Gwangju, which previously existed only in Seoul, Suwon, and Busan.

This aims to promptly resolve and support the increasing number of rehabilitation and bankruptcy cases of individuals and corporations due to the recent economic downturn.

Since the Democratic Party recently adopted the expansion of rehabilitation courts as a party policy, the swift establishment of the Gwangju Rehabilitation Court is highly anticipated.

The amendment to the Consular Assistance Act, known as the ‘Captain Kim Hong-bin Act,’ was reintroduced by Assemblyman Min following the 21st National Assembly. Although related ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively supported the amendment at that time, it did not pass.

The amendment stipulates that in cases of incidents or accidents occurring during acts of national honor, such as those involving the late Captain Kim Hong-bin, if a medal or decoration is awarded, the state shall bear the costs of managing the incident or accident.

In 2022, the government filed a lawsuit against the Gwangju Metropolitan City Mountaineering Federation to claim the costs of managing the accident of Captain Kim, who died during a Himalayan climb.

The court ruled that the mountaineering federation and fellow climbers should share part of the costs. In response, the government immediately appealed, insisting on full reimbursement. The second trial is currently underway.

Assemblyman Min Hyung-bae stated, “The establishment of the Gwangju Rehabilitation Court and blocking the government’s claim for subrogation rights regarding Captain Kim Hong-bin are matters requiring swift legislation,” adding, “All Gwangju lawmakers have united their will to open the way for solutions.”

He further added, “Going forward, the ‘organizational competence’ of the eight Gwangju lawmakers will be leveraged to resolve key local issues.”

Meanwhile, Assemblyman Min led the proposal of a total of nine bills on the same day. He plans to focus on practicality rather than symbolism, like with his ‘Bill No. 1.’

Assemblyman Min plans to continue bundling and proposing bills essential for resolving local issues, improving people’s livelihoods, and reform. To this end, he will focus on identifying current issues and social agendas and selectively reintroduce bills that did not pass in the 21st National Assembly.