Representative Yang Hyang-ja's Bill on 'Establishment of Trauma Healing Center, etc.' Passed by National Assembly

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The bill for the "Establishment and Operation of the National Trauma Healing Center for State Violence," proposed by National Assembly member Yang Hyang-ja (Gwangju Seo-gu Eul), passed the plenary session of the National Assembly on the 11th.

The Trauma Act is a bill designed to support the healing of trauma for victims of state violence and their families, including the Gwangju Democratization Movement and the Jeju 4.3 Incident.

It passed the full meeting of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee on September 8. However, some issues were raised in the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, and after internal revisions within the committee, it finally passed the plenary session of the National Assembly on this day.

The first issue raised was the overlap of functions with the Mental Health Promotion Center of the Armed Forces Capital Hospital, which treats human rights violations within the military.

The overlap was resolved by specifying "serious human rights violations experienced by discharged soldiers during military service." Additionally, the scope was expanded by stipulating that trauma caused by "international terrorist organizations" can also be healed.

Regarding the need for trauma healing for spouses, direct ascendants and descendants, and siblings of victims of state violence, and the criticism that the causal relationship with state violence was unclear, it was defined as "persons among the victim's spouse, direct ascendants and descendants, and siblings who show trauma due to state violence, etc.," thereby clarifying the causal relationship with state violence.

Representative Yang said, "With the passage of the Trauma Act in the plenary session, the national-level measures and responsibilities for those harmed by state violence have finally become clear," and added, "I will make sure that the trauma center currently being built on the site of the former Armed Forces Gwangju Hospital in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, proceeds without any setbacks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.