I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Samcheong camp victim to receive compensation
By Kang Hyun-kyung
A Seoul court recognized Tuesday a victim of a re-education camp established by the military junta in 1980 as a democracy fighter, and ordered the government to compensate him.
The Seoul Administrative Court said that the protest by the 74-year-old man surnamed Lee against Samcheong Re-education Camp from 1980 to 1981should be seen as an act that contributed to the development of the nation’s democracy.
“He fought for democracy in the face of repression by the authorities. He was injured due to his campaigning for freedom and basic rights,” the court said. “He should be regarded as a democracy fighter.”
It is the first time that a court has recognized a surviving victim of the camp as a democracy fighter.
Lee, a farmer, was taken to the camp in August 1980 after a brawl with his neighbor. Lee was severely abused there. He protested against the soldiers who had beaten him. Lee’s resistance earned him even harsher treatment there, and this consequently left his left leg disabled. He was released 10 months after he was taken into the camp.
Lee continued to fight against the government even after he was released and organized an advocacy group consisting of the victims of the forced camp to raise awareness of the inhuman treatment by the then government.
In 2001, Lee submitted a petition to the Commission for Democratization Movement Activists’ Honor-Restoration and Compensation, calling for compensation for his injury and other pain he suffered due to his resistance against the repressive government two decades ago.
But the commission rejected it, saying Lee was not considered a pro-democracy activist and therefore was not eligible for compensation from the government.
Later he brought the case to the administrative court.
The military junta government, which was set up after Chun Doo-hwan took power through a military coup in 1980, established the repressive camp under the name of “purifying society.”
According to the National Defense Ministry, some 40,000 criminals and civilians critical of the authoritarian government were detained in the camp and treated brutally. About 36 percent of them had no criminal records. As many as 54 died as a result of extreme torture.
Former President Roh Tae-woo promised to compensate the victims, but this was not kept. In 2004, the government implemented the law to restore the honor of the victims and compensate them for their suffering.