Calls on National Assembly and Government for Prompt Legislative Action
The Sancheong County Council in South Gyeongsang Province has strongly urged the enactment of national legislation to compensate civilian victims in the Sancheong and Hamyang regions who suffered during the Korean War and its aftermath.
At a recent extraordinary session, the Sancheong County Council adopted a resolution calling for the enactment of a special law to provide substantial compensation for civilian victims in Sancheong and Hamyang. The council demanded that the National Assembly and the government take prompt legislative action.
Group photo of Sancheong County Council urging legislation for compensation for civilian victims in Sancheong and Hamyang.
Through the resolution, the council pointed out, "The Sancheong and Hamyang civilian massacre is a representative case of civilian killings perpetrated by state authorities. Although some truth has been uncovered, meaningful compensation for the victims and their bereaved families has yet to be provided."
The council strongly criticized the current situation in which, despite the official confirmation of state responsibility through the findings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, compensation is still dependent on individual lawsuits. As a result, elderly bereaved families are forced to bear significant time and financial burdens.
The council emphasized, "The fact that only some bereaved families receive limited compensation through lawsuits creates another issue of fairness. For cases in which the state has acknowledged responsibility, compensation should be provided collectively and comprehensively through a special law, rather than through individual lawsuits."
Furthermore, the council stated, "The issue of civilian victims in Sancheong and Hamyang is not a matter limited to a specific region, but a national challenge that must be addressed in the context of modern Korean history." The council urged the National Assembly not to delay legislation any longer and called on the government to actively establish systems for compensation and the restoration of honor.
The Sancheong County Council plans to deliver the resolution to the Speaker of the National Assembly, the leaders of each political party, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and other relevant ministries. The council is also reportedly considering urging solidarity with neighboring local governments.
Meanwhile, in the Sancheong and Hamyang regions, numerous civilians were killed during and after the Korean War. For decades, bereaved families have endured pain in silence and under social stigma. Both within and outside the local community, there have been continued calls that "the tasks following the uncovering of the truth must be compensation and the restoration of honor."
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