Factual Investigation Review Completed for 2,610 Yeosu-Suncheon Incident Truth-Finding Reports

583 Reports from Victims and Bereaved Families to Be Processed Within the Year
Jeonnam Gwangju Special City to Submit Review Results to Central Committee
Follow-Up Actions Include Official Apology and Establishing Compensation Standards

Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City has completed the review of factual investigations by the Working Committee regarding reports submitted for the truth-finding of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident. The city plans to process all remaining reports filed by victims and bereaved families within the year.

Although the working committee has finished its review of truth-finding reports, the completion of the central committee’s investigation report and the implementation of follow-up actions for honor restoration remain as ongoing tasks.

On September 9, the integrated special city held the “18th Yeosu·Suncheon 10·19 Incident Truth-Finding and Victim Honor Restoration Working Committee” meeting at its Eastern Government Office.

18th Yeosun Incident Working Committee Meeting Site. Provided by Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City

At the meeting, the committee reviewed and approved the results of the third round of factual investigations for 2,298 cases, as well as 10 additional decisions on bereaved families. Including previous deliberations, this concludes the factual investigation review for all 2,610 reported cases seeking clarification of the truth.

In total, 10,879 reports have been submitted: 2,610 for truth-finding and 8,269 related to victims and bereaved families. Of these, 10,296 cases have been reviewed, bringing the processing rate to 94.6 percent.

The remaining 583 cases all pertain to reports from victims or bereaved families, and the integrated special city plans to complete their review within this year, thereby finalizing the handling of reports at the working committee stage.

The results of this review will be submitted to the “Yeosu·Suncheon 10·19 Incident Truth-Finding and Victim Honor Restoration Committee,” which is the central committee. The integrated special city will cooperate to ensure that the committee’s investigation report, currently being prepared by its drafting team, is completed within the statutory deadline.

The integrated special city is also pursuing institutional improvements for the restoration of honor to victims and bereaved families.

Petitions have been submitted to the government and National Assembly to: provide legal grounds for supporting bereaved family associations; exclude the objective statute of limitations from applying to damage claims; recognize as victims those who died after enduring disabilities; and enact legal authority to uncover previously unreported victims.

The city has also visited the Office of the President, the National Assembly, and other relevant ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to formally request that the President attend the 78th anniversary joint memorial service for the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident.

The main initiatives after completion of the investigation report have been identified as the President’s official apology, acknowledgment of damages caused by the government’s exercise of authority, designation of a national memorial day, and holding a government-hosted national memorial service.

Plans are also in place to continue urging the government and National Assembly to establish compensation standards for victims and bereaved families equivalent to those of the Jeju 4·3 Incident.

National projects for remembrance and healing are also being pursued.

The city has outlined investments of 150 billion won for the creation of the Yeosu 10·19 Peace Park, 80 billion won for establishing the Peace Foundation, and 13.3 billion won for the official construction of a trauma healing center. The integrated special city aims to establish a system linking remembrance and healing with education and research through these projects, thereby facilitating the restoration of honor.

Chairman of the Working Committee and Mayor of Jeonnam Gwangju Integrated Special City, Min Hyungbae, said, “This year marks the 78th anniversary of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident and the 5th anniversary of the enactment of the special law. While the surviving bereaved families are still with us, we must uncover the truth and restore their honor as soon as possible.” He added, “Although all factual investigations by the working committee regarding the reported truth-finding cases have been completed with this review, the completion of the investigation report and subsequent follow-up actions remain as outstanding tasks.”

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