Gwangju City to Promote Special Act for Jeju Air Crash Victim Support

Mayor Kang Gi-jung: "Full Support for Victims' Daily Life Recovery"
'Maum Center' Healing Self-Help Space for Bereaved Families
Memorial and Healing Festival Held... Support for Tourism Industry Too

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong held a tea meeting on the morning of the 9th at the press room on the 5th floor of the city hall, explaining major city administration issues. Provided by Gwangju City

Gwangju City is moving forward with the enactment of a special law to support victims of the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster and the establishment of a self-help space for victims called the '1229 Mind Center'.

On the 9th, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung stated during a tea meeting with reporters, "The official mourning period for the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster ended on the 4th, and the funeral procedures for the victims were completed on the 8th. However, Gwangju's mourning continues," and added, "We will do our utmost to prevent such disasters from recurring, and to help all victims, from bereaved families to citizens, recover from the psychological and economic impacts."

Mayor Kang said that, for this purpose, the city will push for the enactment of a 'Special Act on Support for Victims of the Jeju Air Passenger Plane Disaster' as the legal basis for victim support. The special law will include economic and medical support for the daily recovery of bereaved families, the establishment of a self-help space for psychological stability and healing for both bereaved families and other victims, and support for the recovery of the local economy.

Mayor Kang plans to meet with the chair of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee and local Gwangju lawmakers to discuss the prompt and substantial enactment of the special law.

The city also plans to establish the '1229 Mind Center' (tentative name), a self-help space for bereaved families of the victims and other social disaster victims. This center will serve as a place where not only bereaved families of the Jeju Air disaster but also those of the Itaewon disaster and citizens who empathize with the pain of social disasters can regularly meet, share their stories, and heal together.

The specific location and timing of the center's establishment will be decided in consultation with the bereaved families. Mayor Kang explained, "The promotion of the 1229 Mind Center will proceed based on agreement with the bereaved families," adding, "For accessibility and other considerations, we are considering Jeonil Building 245 as the center's location."

The city will also support the local tourism industry, which is suffering triple hardships due to the aftermath of the disaster on top of economic recession and political instability. Mayor Kang emphasized, "We will set up a damage report channel at the city level and provide up to 5 billion KRW in special guarantees for small business owners," adding, "We will also request support at the national level."

Previously, at the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters meeting on the 7th, the city proposed expanding the eligibility and hours for emergency care support related to the disaster. Mayor Kang stated at the meeting, "We requested that the current emergency care support, which covers up to 72 hours (worth 1.5 million KRW) within 30 days for blood relatives within the fourth degree and cohabitants, be expanded to 216 hours (worth 4.5 million KRW) within 90 days, similar to integrated care," and added, "The Ministry of Health and Welfare gave a positive review of this proposal."

Meanwhile, Gwangju City plans to hold a 'Culture Festival for Remembrance and Healing' in consultation with the bereaved families to comfort them and the citizens.