Ji Man-won Sentenced to 2 Years in First Trial for Defaming Citizens Involved in 5·18... Avoids Immediate Imprisonment

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] Conservative commentator Ji Man-won (78), who was prosecuted for defaming citizens who participated in the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.

On the 13th, Judge Kim Tae-ho of the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 11 sentenced Ji, who was charged with violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation), to 2 years in prison and a fine of 1 million won. Considering Ji's advanced age, the court did not order detention in court.

Ji is accused of repeatedly defaming citizens appearing in photos taken during the May 18 Democratization Movement on the internet homepage he operates by referring to them as "Gwangsu," meaning "North Korean special forces active in Gwangju."

In November 2014, he also posted an article titled "The rumors of May 18 Gwangju were handled by disguised Catholic priests" on the same site, defaming that "The Catholic Archdiocese of Gwangju Justice and Peace Committee is conspiring with North Korean political operatives."

Additionally, he is accused of defaming the late driver Kim Sa-bok, a real person depicted in the movie Taxi Driver, by labeling him a "ppalgaengi" (communist).