National Center for Healing State Violence Trauma Officially Opens on the 1st

Mayor Kang Ki-jung: "‘State's Fault, State's Responsibility’ Is Only Natural"

Gwangju Metropolitan City and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 1st that they held the launch ceremony of the "National State Violence Trauma Healing Center" (hereinafter referred to as the Healing Center) attended by Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung, Ministry of the Interior and Safety Vice Minister Ko Ki-dong, and members of related bereaved families.

The Healing Center was established under the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of the National State Violence Trauma Healing Center" with the purpose of healing the psychological pain of victims and their families caused by "state violence, hostile forces, and international terrorist organizations" (hereinafter referred to as state violence, etc.) and supporting the recovery of a healthy life.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung stated, "Although it is late, it is truly fortunate that the National Trauma Center was established based on the principle that the state must take responsibility for healing the trauma of survivors of state violence and their families," and added, "The greatest achievement of establishing the center is that, without having to move around due to lack of space, we can now stably operate healing programs in this building."

As the National Trauma Healing Center is dedicated to victims of state violence, he requested that the state fully support the operating expenses and expand the scope of support for the National Trauma Center.

Mayor Kang emphasized, "Gwangju, which was isolated and lonely in May 1980, has since become a representative city of democracy, human rights, and peace thanks to many people who remembered and visited Gwangju," and said, "Now is the time to give back what Gwangju has received."

He continued, "The National State Violence Trauma Healing Center should broaden its scope to include not only direct state violence but also damages caused by negligence in the duty to protect the lives and safety of the people," and stated, "In addition to the May 18 and April 3 incidents, tragedies such as the Sewol Ferry disaster and the Itaewon tragedy should also be subjects of healing that the state must address."

He also said, "Since this is a space for healing damages caused by state violence, the center's operation should be fully funded by the national government," and added, "Gwangju City is working with the National Assembly to promote legal amendments. It is a very natural justice that the state takes full responsibility for the wrongs it has committed, and Gwangju City will actively support making this place where long-delayed justice is finally realized."

The pilot project for trauma healing activities related to state violence, which had been operated in Gwangju and Jeju, ended at the end of May, and after a one-month maintenance period, the center officially opened on this day.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety conducted a pilot healing activity project in Gwangju Metropolitan City and Jeju Special Self-Governing Province from 2020 before the enactment of the law and the establishment of the Healing Center. Considering the symbolism of the May 18 Democratic Movement and Gwangju's intention to host the center, it was decided in 2021 to build the national healing center in Gwangju.

The Healing Center was completed in April of this year with a total investment of 10.7 billion KRW on the site of the former Gukgun Gwangju Hospital in Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, with a scale of one basement floor and three above-ground floors (total floor area 2,224㎡). The first floor consists of counseling rooms and office spaces, the second floor has a multipurpose room and physical therapy room, and the third floor includes program rooms and an outdoor resting area.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety simultaneously opened the Jeju Center to provide healing program services specialized for the trauma of Jeju 4·3 to soothe the wounds of Jeju Island.

The Healing Center, launched to heal trauma caused by state violence, plans to strengthen mental and physical healing programs, expand one-on-one counseling services, increase social healing programs, and enhance outreach healing services.