Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 National Solidarity Urges Resignation of Yoon Administration-Appointed Committee Members

"New Right Figures Obstruct Truth-Finding"
Calls for Disclosure of 14th Regiment and Bodo League Lists, Expanded Investigation
Demands for Committee Reform and Restoration of Victims' Honor

Organizations related to the Yeosu-Suncheon 10·19 Incident have called for the resignation of certain members of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Committee who were appointed under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

On July 14, the Yeosu 10·19 National Solidarity issued a statement criticizing, "The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Truth-Finding and Victims’ Honor Restoration Committee (Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Committee) has filled its appointed civilian positions with figures from the New Right faction," adding, "The fact that these individuals still remain in their positions shows an ongoing attempt to distort history."

On May 15, at Yi Sun-sin Square in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, appealed for support during a focused campaign rally, while some citizens urged for the investigation of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident. Photo by Yonhap News

The committee was launched in March of last year and has about one year and three months left in its term. The National Solidarity stated, "The government, as the embodiment of national sovereignty, must overhaul the committee, which has been tainted under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, and properly fulfill its duties to resume the suspended investigation and restore the honor of the victims."

The organization demanded the immediate resignation of two committee members identified as being from the New Right. It also called for the disclosure of the list of perpetrators from the 14th Regiment and the Bodo League during the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, the expansion of ex officio investigations into certain areas of Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do, and the exclusion of statutes of limitations for civilian massacre cases that occurred before, during, and after the Korean War.

The Yeosu-Suncheon Incident began on October 19, 1948, when some soldiers of the 14th Regiment stationed in Yeosu refused orders to suppress the Jeju 4·3 Incident. Subsequently, armed clashes and crackdowns continued across Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, and Gyeongsangnam-do until 1955, resulting in the deaths of many civilians.