Rep. Back Hye-ryun of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), chairwoman of the National Assembly's National Policy Committee, bangs the gavel during a committee meeting, April 23. The DPK members of the committee approved the bill to honor pro-democracy activists and sent it directly for a vote in a National Assembly plenary session. The DPK has vowed to pass the bill in May. Yonhap

People who perished or sacrificed themselves for the sake of the country or fellow citizens facing life-threatening circumstances deserve recognition.

And Korea does honor its war heroes, independence fighters who risked their lives both at home and abroad to achieve Korea's independence from Japan's brutal colonial rule, and the numerous soldiers who lost their lives in defense of the country.

Patriots and their heroic deeds should be remembered, and their legacies should be inherited by the generations that follow them. Certainly, there is a role the government can play to make this happen. Honoring them and chronicling their works to help future generations remember their sacrifices is one such effort.

There is one precondition that must be met to be recognized as a national hero: an individual's contributions must be indisputable. Suspicions grow into distrust when those who are proposed to be decorated are controversial or public opinion about them is divided. The initiative to honor certain people will be caught in controversy when the initiators and the beneficiaries are the very same people.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) endeavor to pass a bill designed to glorify pro-democracy activists has caused a stir due to its potential conflict of interest and the lack of consensus built about the role of some potential beneficiaries.

The DPK's flip-flopping about the bill has also fueled public distrust.

Rep. Woo Won-shik of the DPK initially proposed an identical bill in 2020 when President Moon Jae-in was in office. It drew a lot of criticism at the time. Many viewed the measure as self-serving legislation, partly because the DPK was and still is led by Generation 586 politicians, who took to the streets and led the pro-democracy movement in the 1980s.

The potential beneficiaries of the bill are pro-democracy activists of the same generation as those politicians. The DPK scrapped the bill as they became wary of the possible negative fallout on the general elections held earlier this month.

The DPK picked up the measure again, after the elections.

The main opposition party pushed through the same bill to decorate pro-democracy activists and allow them to enjoy various perks, including medical insurance and financial support. This time, the DPK lawmakers moved quickly and without hesitation despite the worsening public opinion. The DPK, by taking advantage of its majority status, deliberated and passed the bill quickly at the National Assembly's National Policy Committee on April 23 and sent it directly to a plenary session for voting, bypassing the Legislation and Judiciary Committee which is chaired by Rep. Kim Do-eup of the ruling People Power Party (PPP).

This is something unusual, if not outright illegal.

Once approved in standing committees, bills are sent to the Legislation and Judiciary Committee for final review before they are sent to a plenary session for a vote.

The DPK justified its move, claiming the bill has been stuck in the judiciary committee for over 80 days and in a case like this, committee members can vote again and once approved, it can be sent directly to a plenary session.

The PPP accused the DPK of taking advantage of its "tyranny of the majority," declaring that democracy is in peril.

Despite the criticism, the DPK vowed to approve the bill in May. Given its majority status in the Assembly, the DPK will be able to pass the bill on its own. However, it remains uncertain whether President Yoon Suk Yeol will eventually sign it into law or not. Yoon has the last call as he can veto passed bills.

Problems will occur if the bill is signed into law and takes effect. The bill will allow those who were convicted of having violated the National Security Law to receive the same benefits.

Activists who were convicted of arson in 1989, in which seven police officers died after entering the Dong-Eui University in the southeastern port city of Busan to save five kidnapped auxiliary police officers, can be designated as contributors to the democracy movement. And those who were involved in the torture and beating of innocent victims who were falsely accused of having spied on the activists, better known as the "double spy scandal" at Seoul National University in 1984, will also be eligible for such benefits.

The passage of the bill will serve only the interests of those who will be designated as contributors to the nation's democracy. It will surely backfire and hurt the DPK.

If the president refuses to sign the bill into law, which is highly likely considering his frequent exercising of his veto power, another round of partisan conflicts will be inevitable. The DPK will gain nothing, because criticism against it will be unavoidable if the bill is passed.

The best-case scenario will be that the DPK voluntarily scraps the bill to prevent a possible parliamentary deadlock. Doing so will also serve its own interests, as the suspension of the bill will help the party save face.