1Police are reviewing 70,000 awards to revoke honors given for past torture.
2They plan to strip honors from human rights abusers like the late Lee Geun-an.
3The President called it overdue, vowing strict action against state violence.
📖 Easy Explanation
🔍 Background
During past dictatorships, police who tortured pro-democracy activists or framed them as spies often received medals for their 'merit.' As public demand to correct these misplaced honors grew, the police launched a massive investigation.
📌 Key Points
The National Police Agency is reviewing over 70,000 awards given since its founding in 1945. The goal is to revoke awards from human rights violators like the notorious 'torture technician' Lee Geun-an. The President supported this, calling it 'long overdue but necessary.'
💡 Why It Matters
This is a crucial step in restoring justice in society. By resolving the contradiction of wrongdoers receiving state awards, it leaves a lesson that public power must be used rightfully for the people.
📚 Glossary
만시지탄 (Mansijitan)A lamentation that an action is taken too late or is long overdue.
서훈 (Seohun)The act of awarding medals or decorations based on one's merit for the country.
전수조사 (Jeonsujosa)A complete enumeration survey that examines every single target without omission.
국가폭력 (Gukgapongnyeok)State violence or human rights abuses inflicted on citizens through the abuse of public power.