Geochang County Council Calls for Passage of Special Law on Compensation and Reparations for Geochang Incident Victims

Resolution issued in the names of all council members at the 296th extraordinary session; Councilor Park Suja reads it aloud
Calls for swift passage of related bills introduced by both parties, emphasizing urgency as victims' families grow older
Urges government-led memorial event and follow-up measures to restore victims' honor

Geochang County Council in South Gyeongsang Province called for the swift passage by the National Assembly of a special law to resolve compensation and reparations for the victims of the Geochang Civilian Massacre, which took place during the Korean War, and their bereaved families.

After the fourth plenary session of its 296th extraordinary session on the 5th, the council issued a resolution in the name of all its members calling for the National Assembly to pass a bill on compensation and reparations for victims of the Geochang Incident.

[Photo provided by Geochang County Council] Geochang County Council Chair Pyo Joo-sook, Council Member Park Su-ja, and other council members pose for a commemorative photo after announcing a resolution on the 5th calling for the National Assembly to pass a bill providing compensation and reparations to the victims of the Geochang Incident.

Councilor Park Suja read the resolution aloud on behalf of the council. It called on the National Assembly and the government to take follow-up action on compensation and reparations for the victims and their bereaved families, an issue that has remained unresolved for many years since the incident.

The Geochang Incident refers to the mass killing of civilians in the Geochang area during an anti-guerrilla operation by South Korean troops in 1951, during the Korean War.

In its resolution, Geochang County Council noted that the unlawful acts of the South Korean troops at the time had been recognized in relevant court rulings, but that compensation and reparations for the victims and their bereaved families remained unresolved 75 years after the incident.

The council said that legislation and amendments to relevant laws must not be delayed any further, particularly as the victims' bereaved family members are growing older.

The council also called for the swift passage of related bills currently pending in the National Assembly.

On April 17, 2025, 24 lawmakers, including Shin Seong-beom of the People Power Party, introduced a bill to fully revise the Special Measures Act on Restoring the Honor of Those Involved in the Geochang Incident and Other Related Matters.

Then, on November 28 of the same year, 11 lawmakers, including Min Hong-cheol of the Democratic Party of Korea, introduced a special bill on compensation for those involved in the Geochang, Sancheong and Hamyang incidents.

The council noted that the two bills address compensation and reparations for civilian victims of related incidents, including the Geochang Incident, and called on the National Assembly to review and pass them.

The council also urged the National Assembly to pass the bills during its regular session in the second half of 2026 and called on the government to organize a national memorial event for the Geochang Incident that would include an apology to the victims and their bereaved families and pay tribute to them.

Through the resolution, the council plans to draw attention to restoring the honor of the victims and their bereaved families and resolving compensation and reparations issues, and to call for follow-up action by the National Assembly and the government.

Meanwhile, compensation and reparations for the victims of the Geochang Incident and their bereaved families require the enactment or revision of relevant laws and the establishment of a basis for financial support. Specific plans and procedures are expected to depend on the outcome of the National Assembly's deliberations on the bills.

To resolve compensation and reparations issues for the victims of the Geochang Incident and their bereaved families, it will be necessary to continue monitoring the National Assembly's deliberations on the related bills and whether the government takes follow-up action.

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