Jeonnam Province, which operates the 'Yeosu-Suncheon Oct. 19 Incident Truth Finding and Victims' Honor Restoration Committee', is embroiled in controversy as it replaces committee members just six months before concluding its investigation. Former committee members Choi Kyung-pil and Park Byeong-seop have filed a complaint with the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, alleging abuse of power and legal violations by the staff involved in the member replacement process. The committee, chaired by the Jeonnam Governor, is responsible for victim report reception and fact-finding investigations under the Yeosu Incident Act.

Choi and Park, who were appointed members of the committee on January 21, 2022, and subsequently reappointed once, claim that Jeonnam Province is unjustly applying the law to exclude members from civil society who have expressed criticism towards the committee's operations. They stated that although their second terms were set to expire on January 21, they were not contacted by the province until a month later, when they were informed that their reappointment would not occur. This has raised concerns over the transparency and fairness of the reappointment process.

In response to the controversy, Jeonnam Province clarified that the absence of a fixed term limit in the Yeosu Incident Act allows them to apply local ordinances restricting members to two consecutive terms. The province emphasized that the rule should be interpreted as limiting reappointments to two times and that the former committee members have merely met the eligibility criteria for a maximum of three consecutive terms. Furthermore, one individual originally slated for reappointment has reportedly declined the position following the backlash.