Two Legislative Bills on the May 18 Democratic Movement and Japanese Military Comfort Women Victims Pledged
[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Yang Hyang-ja, a preliminary candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea for the National Assembly election in Seo-gu (Eul), Gwangju Metropolitan City, has declared that she will actively work to set the history of the May 18 Democratic Movement straight.
On the 11th, Candidate Yang announced through a press release that she would push for strong punishment against defamatory remarks related to May 18.
She continued, “Even now, on the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, distortion and disparagement of May 18 continue to be repeated,” adding, “In particular, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, referred to the May 18 Democratic Movement as an ‘incident.’”
She further stated, “It is deplorable that the leader of the main opposition party describes May 18 as an ‘incident,’ as if aligned with the Fifth Republic forces,” and criticized, “This behavior of the Liberty Korea Party is likely why many citizens are calling for the opposition party to be judged.”
She then emphasized, “As part of setting history straight, I will promote legislation to amend the May 18 Special Act to impose imprisonment without fines as punishment,” and added, “I will prepare effective punitive measures, not just insincere apologies made under public pressure.”
She pledged two bills related to the May 18 Democratic Movement and victims of Japanese military sexual slavery under Japanese colonial rule.
The bills proposed by Candidate Yang focus on adding penalties to the ‘Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Movement, etc.’ and the ‘Act on the Protection, Support, and Commemoration of Victims of Japanese Military Sexual Slavery under Japanese Colonial Rule,’ stipulating imprisonment without fines for those who damage the honor of victims by spreading false information.
Candidate Yang argued, “Defamation and slander against the May 18 Democratic Movement and victims of sexual slavery are acts with malicious intent that distort our history and hurt the people, so they must be strictly punished.”
Meanwhile, in 2016, Candidate Yang served as chairperson of the Democratic Party’s Special Committee on the Tears of the Statue of Peace, leading efforts to prevent the removal of the statue and invalidate the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement. In the same year, she opposed the party leadership’s planned visit to Jeon Du-hwan, saying, “Why meet a shameless person?” and succeeded in canceling the visit.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
