Sabuk Incident Anniversary Passes Without Government Apology, Ceremonies Postponed

For the second year in a row, the anniversary of the Sabuk Incident has passed without the government offering a formal apology for the state violence that occurred, leading to the postponement of official commemorative ceremonies. Hankyoreh reports that the Sabuk Democratic Uprising Comrades Association announced on April 21st that the 46th anniversary ceremony, originally scheduled for the day, has been pushed to after June due to the government's failure to apologize and the ongoing local election campaigns. The Sabuk Incident, a significant event in South Korea's labor and democratic movement history, took place over four days starting April 21, 1980, at the Dongwon Coal Mine in Sabuk-eup, Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province. Miners and residents protested against the company-controlled union leadership, resulting in clashes with police and the occupation of the town.

Despite the delay in official ceremonies, the call for a national apology is resonating beyond Jeongseon, spreading across the country. A series of events are being organized to mark the 46th anniversary and to amplify the demand for accountability. These include invitational screenings of the film '1980 Sabuk' for Gangwon residents, discussions with gubernatorial candidates about the Sabuk issue, and further screenings in Seoul, Ansan, and Jinju. The film, which sheds light on the state violence during the incident, has also garnered international attention, with screenings held in Germany, the United States, and France, underscoring the global significance of this unresolved historical injustice.

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The 46th anniversary of the Sabuk Incident, originally scheduled for today, has been postponed to after June due to the government's failure to issue an official apology and the local election campaigns.

From the perspective of the Sabuk community and its supporters, the continued lack of a government apology is a profound injustice. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has repeatedly recommended official acknowledgment and apology, yet these recommendations remain unfulfilled. As Hwang In-wook of the Jeongseon Community Research Institute stated, "The nature of state violence that occurred in Sabuk is not well known. We hope the President will watch the movie '1980 Sabuk' with those involved in the Sabuk Incident. As delayed justice loses its power over time, we hope for a national apology for the Sabuk Incident to be implemented soon, before it is too late." The ongoing efforts to commemorate the incident and advocate for an apology highlight the enduring struggle for historical truth and reconciliation in South Korea, a struggle that continues to be fought on cultural and political fronts.

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The nature of state violence that occurred in Sabuk is not well known. We hope the President will watch the movie '1980 Sabuk' with those involved in the Sabuk Incident. As delayed justice loses its power over time, we hope for a national apology for the Sabuk Incident to be implemented soon, before it is too late.