Policy Forum on Enactment of Special Law for Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea Successfully Held

Joo Jongseop Emphasizes Need for Special Law
to Provide Compensation and Restitution for Victims

Joo Jongseop, Jeonnam Provincial Assembly Member

Joo Jongseop, a member of the Jeonnam Provincial Assembly (Democratic Party of Korea, Yeosu District 6), held a policy forum on October 13 at the Yeosu City Council together with Yeosu City Council members Koo Minho and Kim Chaekyung to discuss the enactment of a special law for the Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea Incident.

The Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea Incident refers to cases in which fishing boats operating at sea were either kidnapped by North Korean patrol boats or lost their way and crossed into North Korea, after which the fishermen returned to South Korea but were subjected to illegal interrogations by the police, military, and intelligence agencies, and were punished for violating the National Security Act, among other charges.

The forum was organized to promote the enactment of a special law regarding the Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea Incident. It began with a keynote presentation by attorney Jung Jina titled "Overview of Legal Support for Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea in Jeonnam and Proposals for Restoring the Honor of Victims and Their Families." This was followed by a discussion featuring Kim Byungho, former director of the Yeosu Community Research Institute; Koo Minho, Yeosu City Council member; Shin Pyungok, a captain and direct victim of abduction; and Shim Myungbong, a bereaved family member of a victim.

Additionally, Kim Bongnam and Lee Giljae, returnee fishermen from Chodo, Yeosu, gave testimonies about their experiences, adding significance to the event. The fishermen and their families called on Jeonnam Province and Yeosu City to take steps to investigate the actual damage suffered by local residents and to support the enactment of the special law.

Joo Jongseop, who hosted the forum, stated, "In addition to the previously known Dongrimho and Takseongho cases, we have confirmed that there are additional victims in the region," and emphasized, "Given the large number of people engaged in fishing in Jeonnam, the provincial government must take the lead in identifying additional victims of the Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea Incident throughout our region."

He further noted, "Most of the fishermen who suffered from abduction and return are elderly, and many have already passed away, making it impossible even to seek retrials in many cases. The state, as the perpetrator, must directly identify the victims and enact a special law to restore their honor and provide compensation and restitution."

Meanwhile, Joo Jongseop previously organized a forum in 2022 to discuss the actual conditions of and support measures for returnee fishermen abducted to North Korea in Jeonnam Province. In 2023, he enacted the "Jeonnam Province Ordinance on Restoring the Honor and Supporting Victims of State Violence Among Returnee Fishermen Abducted to North Korea," continuing his legislative efforts to restore the honor and provide compensation and restitution for those who suffered due to unjust state power.