The government will establish a presidential Committee of Light to honor citizens who defended the constitution and democracy against the military during the 12·3 martial law.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said the Cabinet approved the draft \"Regulations on the Establishment and Operation of the Committee of Light\" at its meeting on the 10th.
Established under the President, the Committee of Light will carry out programs to recognize people who resisted the 12·3 martial law, honor their contributions to defending the constitution and democratic order, and preserve and transmit that spirit.
Its main responsibilities include △setting the basic direction for establishing and spreading a Korean-style participatory democracy that defended the constitution and democracy (K-democracy), △issuing and awarding \"Certificates of Light,\" and △gathering public input on designating a national commemorative day related to the Light Revolution.
In particular, the government plans to award Certificates of Light to citizens who defended democracy on the ground after the committee reviews each case. To make the process accessible, applications will be accepted online through the national e-People portal, and the government will also offer registered mail and in-person submission options.
The president will appoint up to 35 members to the committee, including constitutional and democracy experts. The panel will consist of 10 government officials and up to 25 private appointees, with the Minister of the Interior and Safety serving as secretary. The committee will establish and operate field-specific subcommittees, special committees, and an expert advisory panel.
The government said it moved quickly to form the committee after recent rulings by the Constitutional Court and other courts made clear that citizens' commitment and courageous actions were decisive factors in lifting the martial law and restoring constitutional order.
Separately, nominators put forward the entire South Korean public that peacefully resisted the 12·3 martial law as candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize, describing the public's effort as the \"Light Revolution\" and praising it as a global model of overcoming an unprecedented constitutional crisis through nonviolent civic participation.
Yun Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety, said, \"Establishing the Committee of Light allows us to honor and recognize the citizens who resisted the 12·3 martial law. Through the committee, we will pursue national unity and work to firmly root and expand K-democracy throughout our society.\"
