'Seongam Academy' Victims: Gyeonggi Province to Share Responsibility with Lee Jae-myung Administration, No Longer Alone

As the government has decided to forgo appeals (both appellate and Supreme Court) related to the damages lawsuits filed by the victims of Seongam Academy, Gyeonggi Province has announced plans to actively promote support projects and advocate for the enactment of a special law to heal the wounds of the victims and restore their honor.

Currently, support for the victims of Seongam Academy is provided under the "Ordinance on Support for Victims of the Seongam Academy Incident in Gyeonggi Province." However, in order to address regional limitations and issues of fairness, and to establish a practical and comprehensive support system, the enactment of a special law is necessary.

Accordingly, in May, calls were made to then-presidential candidates and others for the enactment of a special law to ensure prompt support for the victims and bereaved families of the Seongam Academy incident, as well as the restoration of their honor.

Gyeonggi Province is also working to transform the former site of Seongam Academy into a historical and cultural space for remembrance and healing of child human rights violations. To this end, preparations are underway, including conducting related research by the end of this year. The historical and cultural space will include a multipurpose exhibition complex, a healing and recovery area, a cultural exchange space, and a community complex for local residents and visitors.

Seongam Academy Former Site

Gyeonggi Province expects that the Ministry of Justice's decision to withdraw and forgo appeals will lead to prompt relief of rights for the victims of Seongam Academy. Until the new government expressed its position, Gyeonggi Province had shouldered the burden of "true healing and recovery for the victims of Seongam Academy" alone, and now sees significance in the fact that the province and the central government can support the victims together as a result of this decision.

Kim Dongyeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, issued an official apology in October 2022, shortly after taking office, expressing his commitment to do his utmost to support the healing of wounds and restoration of honor for victims of past child human rights violations at Seongam Academy, and to take responsible action.

Following Governor Kim Dongyeon's apology, Gyeonggi Province has been continuously providing monthly living expenses of 200,000 won, a one-time consolation payment of 5 million won, and medical and psychological support (with more than 1,600 cumulative cases) to the victims of Seongam Academy. A victim support center is also in operation to help heal psychological trauma.

The Seongam Academy incident refers to the violation of human rights of more than 4,700 boys, who were subjected to forced labor, beatings, abuse, and secret burials under the pretext of reforming vagrants, as part of a national policy from 1942 to 1982 during the Japanese occupation period.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded twice, in 2022 and 2024, that the Seongam Academy incident was "a violation of children's human rights by public authority." The Commission recommended that the state, which implemented the unlawful vagrant policy, and Gyeonggi Province, which operated Seongam Academy, issue official apologies to the victims and bereaved families, excavate the remains of the victims, establish support measures for the victims of the Seongam Academy incident, and carry out projects to preserve the historic site.

Meanwhile, on August 5, Governor Kim Dongyeon announced on his social media that "with the advent of the government of popular sovereignty, the decision to forgo a Supreme Court appeal in the Seongam Academy compensation case means that Gyeonggi Province will also immediately forgo and withdraw its appeal."