Joyeon Cho Moves to Establish Legal Basis for Compensation to Victims and Families of Past Incidents

Main Sponsor of the Truth and Reconciliation Act Amendment
Includes Establishment of Compensation Review Committee and Extension of Investigation Period

Joyeon Cho, Member of the National Assembly from Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, representing the People Power Party, has proposed a partial amendment to the Framework Act on Clearing Up Past Incidents for Truth and Reconciliation. This amendment aims to enable practical compensation for victims and bereaved families affected by human rights violations and civilian massacres that occurred before and after the Korean War.

Joyeon Cho, Member of the National Assembly.

The current law mandates the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to investigate and clarify historical incidents that have been distorted or concealed, and to promote national unity. However, there have been ongoing criticisms that the law lacks sufficient provisions for compensating victims and their families, which has prevented meaningful redress.

In practice, even if the Truth and Reconciliation Commission determines the truth of a case, victims and their families must file separate lawsuits against the state to receive compensation. Due to issues such as the statute of limitations, there have been repeated cases where victims and their families are unable to exercise their rights.

The amendment proposed by Representative Cho includes the following: the establishment of a Compensation Review Committee to provide clear compensation guidelines; a one-year extension of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's investigation period; and the creation of a legal basis for budgetary support from the central and local governments for memorial and commemoration projects.

Representative Cho stated, "Even though the government has clarified the truth, requiring victims to pursue compensation through lawsuits means the state is not fully fulfilling its responsibilities. I hope this amendment will provide real comfort to victims and their families, and I will work to build a society that remembers and honors our painful history."

Meanwhile, last month, Representative Cho visited the Anti-Communist Victims Memorial Park in Baksari, Wachon-myeon, Gyeongsan, to pay tribute to the victims and offer encouragement to their families.