Kim Dong-yeon: "After Finishing Exhumation of Seon감 School Victims' Remains, I Will Claim Recovery from Central Government"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gapdong] As Gyeonggi Province takes the lead in exhuming the remains of victims of the Seongsam School incident in place of the national government, Governor Kim Dong-yeon announced that after completing the exhumation work, he will claim recovery costs from the central government if necessary.

The province held a ground-breaking ceremony on August 8 at the Seongsam School joint grave site (San 37-1, Seongsam-dong, Ansan City) to begin the exhumation of victims' remains from the Seongsam School incident.

Governor Kim stated at the ceremony, "In October 2022, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission clarified the truth and explicitly designated the state as the primary responsible party. At that time, it recommended exhumation and emphasized that the state should lead the exhumation while Gyeonggi Province provide administrative support. However, until early this year, the central government made no statement acknowledging responsibility or mentioning exhumation even once."

He continued, "(Gyeonggi Province) cannot delay any longer and declared that it would conduct the exhumation while at least one victim is still alive. After the exhumation work and procedures are complete, if necessary, we will exercise our right to claim recovery from the central government. It is not about saving money, but rather to awaken the government—if necessary, we will file a lawsuit," he emphasized.

He concluded, "We will sound the alarm on human rights abuses that have been violated through public authority, not only at Seongsam School, but also previously, and we will raise awareness. I hope we all share the commitment to build a nation where violence does not exist under the name of state or government, and where human dignity is protected. Gyeonggi Province pledges to do its best at the forefront of this effort going forward."

Previously, the province conducted a comprehensive survey of graves and issued notices of grave opening from late April through mid-July in accordance with the "Act on Funeral Services and Others." In addition to the 35 graves test-excavated by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in 2022 and 2023, approximately 150 graves presumed to be victims' remains were confirmed.

The province plans to begin full-scale exhumation of the presumed victim graves after the ground-breaking ceremony. Starting in November when exhumation is completed, the province will conduct anthropological surveys, genetic testing, cremation, and enshrinement procedures for all exhumed remains, including those from the test excavation.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 60 people, including Seongsam School incident victims, officials from Gyeonggi Province, Ansan City, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and civic organizations. The event included a moment of silence, eulogies, floral tributes, presentation of victims' stories, and memorial performances.

The Seongsam School incident refers to human rights abuses, including forced labor, beatings, mistreatment, and secret burial of approximately 4,700 boys at Seongsam School, established on Seongsam Island in Ansan City from 1942 to 1982 during Japanese colonial rule, allegedly for the purpose of reforming vagrants. In October 2022, when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded its investigation, it classified the Seongsam School incident as "child human rights violations by public authority" and recommended that Gyeonggi Province, which operated the school, and the state, which implemented illegal vagrant policies, establish support measures for victims and conduct exhumation of victims' remains.