Yook Jungmi, a proportional representative of the Democratic Party and a member of the Daegu City Council, will deliver a five-minute free speech at the 3rd plenary session of the 316th extraordinary meeting, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on May 2. In her speech, she will shed light on the Korean victims of forced labor who perished in the 1942 Jangsaeng Coal Mine flooding accident in Japan, and urge the city of Daegu to take a more proactive stance in addressing this issue.
Yook stated, "The Republic of Korea as we know it today was built upon the pain and sacrifice of countless individuals. Among them are those who were forcibly mobilized, lost their lives, and were neglected by the state for a long time." She cited the Jangsaeng Coal Mine flooding accident as a representative example.
On February 3, 1942, a major flooding accident occurred at the Jangsaeng Coal Mine in Ube City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, resulting in the deaths of 183 people, including 136 Korean laborers who had been forcibly conscripted. Of these, 73 were from Daegu and Gyeongbuk, underscoring that this is a painful history the local community cannot ignore.
She went on to say, "Even after 83 years since the accident, the Japanese government has maintained a passive attitude toward the recovery of the remains." She also mentioned that the excavation of the remains is being carried out under the difficult leadership of Japanese civic groups, and referenced the upcoming fourth underwater investigation scheduled for June.
Yook added, "Recently, our government has also begun DNA testing for bereaved families, but the families have criticized the response as excessively delayed and are demanding a comprehensive investigation as well as a joint Korea-Japan investigation." She further introduced, "In February, citizens from across the country, including Daegu and Gyeongbuk, visited the Jangsaeng Coal Mine site to hold a memorial event. Korean and Japanese youth also participated by calling out the names of the victims, sharing in the pain of history during this meaningful occasion."
Yook also pointed out, "Although we have long advocated for local autonomy, we have shown a passive attitude toward issues that lie at the boundary between national and local government affairs." She emphasized, "Now is the time for local governments to prioritize the suffering of local residents over distinguishing between central and local responsibilities."
On this day, Yook is expected to call on the city of Daegu to: first, actively support efforts to ensure that information on local victims and bereaved families is not omitted from the government’s remains recovery and DNA testing initiatives; second, establish systems for commemorative projects that the local community can participate in, referencing examples from other local governments such as Seoul, Ulsan, and Jeonnam; and third, strengthen cooperation with the central government and other local governments to induce responsible action from the Japanese government.
Yook is also expected to emphasize, "Remembering history and returning the victims to their families is the first step toward settling historical issues and realizing justice," and urge, "I hope the city of Daegu will take the lead in fulfilling this historical responsibility."
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