The South Korean government will establish the "Light Committee" under the president to honor citizens who contributed to upholding the constitution and democracy during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law.
President Lee Jae-myung presided over a Cabinet meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Thursday and approved the "Regulation on the Establishment and Operation of the Light Committee." The committee is an organization to commemorate citizens who contributed to defending the constitution and democracy during the national crisis of emergency martial law.
The committee will establish basic directions for spreading Korean-style participatory democracy (K-Democracy) and issue "Light Certificates" to citizens who contributed to defending democracy during the Dec. 3 emergency martial law. The government plans to establish criteria and eligible recipients for the certificates through committee deliberation. Applications will be accepted through online submission via the Government Civil Petition Portal, as well as registered mail and in-person filing.
The committee will also pursue projects to inherit the spirit of democracy, including gathering public opinions on whether to designate a national memorial day related to the "Light Revolution." The committee will consist of up to 35 members, primarily experts in constitutional and democracy fields.
The committee will include 10 government members, including the ministers of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety, along with up to 25 commissioned members including experts in constitutional and democracy fields. The Minister of the Interior and Safety will serve as secretary. Subcommittees, special committees, and expert advisory groups will also be established for efficient operation.
The Cabinet meeting also approved 33 bills for promulgation, two legislative bills, 11 presidential decrees, and two general agenda items. These included an amendment to the Employment Insurance Act allowing spouses of female workers who experienced miscarriage or stillbirth to take leave, and a Special Act on the Development and Operation of Retirement Villages designating Korea Land and Housing Corporation as a retirement village project operator.
