Victims of the so-called "October 28 Konkuk Incident," who suffered illegal detention and torture after participating in anti-dictatorship protests during the Chun Doo-hwan regime, have filed a damage suit against the state.

The October 28 Konkuk Uprising Succession Association announced during a press conference in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu on the 10th that 63 victims had filed a damage suit against the government.

Among them, 13 also filed for retrials against their guilty verdicts for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act, and the association plans to gather more participants to file additional lawsuits in the future.

The October 28 Konkuk Incident refers to an event in 1986 where some 2,000 students from 26 universities gathered at Konkuk University to protest for four days calling for the overthrow of the military regime, during which they were illegally detained and subjected to harsh treatment.

The Chun Doo-hwan regime suppressed the students under the operation name "Hwangso 30" (Bull 30), arresting and detaining 1,525 people and locking up around 1,280.

It is the largest public security case in the history of the domestic student movement.

Previously, the 2nd Truth and Reconciliation Commission concluded in May of last year that the incident was "a human rights violation caused by the unlawful exercise of public power" and recommended that the state issue an official apology and take measures for victim rehabilitation and restoration of reputation.

However, illegal detention was recognized for only 80 individuals.

The association argued that the state has a responsibility to compensate for physical, mental, and social damages.

Ko Yong-gyu, the standing representative of the association, emphasized, "The victims went to prison, were expelled from school, suffered discrimination in social life such as employment, and even their families had to endure surveillance, stigmatization, poverty, and suffering. Apologizing and compensating is not a choice, but an obligation of the state."

(Photo: Yonhap News)