'Seongam Academy Groundbreaking Ceremony' Attendee Kim Dong-yeon: "If Necessary After Harmful Excavation, Government Will Seek Compensation"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon is speaking at the excavation event for the remains of victims held on the 8th at the former Ansan Seongam Orphanage site.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced that he would carry out the excavation of remains of the victims of the Ansan Seongam Academy incident on behalf of the state and, if necessary, seek compensation from the central government.

Governor Kim attended the "Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Excavation of Remains of Victims of the Seongam Academy Incident" held on the 8th at the Seongam Academy communal cemetery (San 37-1, Seongam-dong, Ansan-si) and emphasized, "In October 2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission clarified the facts and designated the state as the fundamental responsible party for the incident."

He first criticized, "At that time, the commission recommended excavation led by the state with Gyeonggi Province providing administrative support. However, until early this year, the central government had not once acknowledged responsibility or mentioned the excavation of remains."

He continued, "(Gyeonggi Province) could no longer delay and declared that it would proceed with the excavation to recover the remains while any victims might still be alive," adding, "After the excavation and memorial services are completed, if necessary, we will exercise the right of recourse against the central government. This is not because of financial concerns but to awaken the government; if needed, we will file a lawsuit."

Furthermore, he stated, "Not only for Seongam Academy but also for human rights cases violated by state power, we will sound the alarm and raise awareness," and added, "I hope we all unite in making this country one without violence under the name of the state or government and one that protects human dignity. Gyeonggi Province pledges to be at the forefront of this effort and will continue to do its best."

Earlier, Gyeonggi Province conducted preliminary procedures for the excavation of remains, such as a comprehensive survey of graves and public notices of exhumation, from late April to mid-July in accordance with the 'Act on the Management of Graves and Burials.' In addition to the 35 graves excavated twice by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2022 and 2023, about 150 graves presumed to be those of victims were identified.

Following the groundbreaking ceremony, Gyeonggi Province will begin excavating the graves presumed to be those of victims. Once excavation is complete, from November onward, anthropological investigations, genetic analyses, cremation, and enshrinement procedures will be conducted on all excavated remains, including those from the trial excavations.

Seongam Academy was established on Seongam Island in Ansan from 1942 to 1982 during the Japanese colonial period. Under the pretext of reforming vagrant children, over 4,700 boys were subjected to forced labor, beatings, harsh treatment, and secret burials, constituting a human rights violation incident.

In October 2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded the Seongam Academy incident as a "child human rights violation by state power" and recommended that Gyeonggi Province, the operator of Seongam Academy, and the state, which implemented illegal vagrant child policies, prepare support measures for the victims and conduct excavation of the victims' remains.