“5·18 40th Anniversary... Expecting a Starting Point for Complete Truth Investigation and Historical Reconciliation”

The Integrated Union issued a statement on the 40th anniversary of 5·18, expressing hope for a complete investigation into the truth of 5·18, identification and punishment of those who gave the final order to fire on unarmed citizens, and sincere confessions and apologies from the perpetrators.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] The National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union (Chairman Lee Chung-jae·photo) issued a statement on the 17th, expressing, "We hope that the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising this year will serve as a starting point for complete fact-finding and historic reconciliation."

The union stated, "There are still many undisclosed facts related to May 18," and added, "We hope for a full investigation into the truth of May 18, confirmation and punishment of the final orderers who fired on unarmed citizens, and sincere confessions and apologies from the perpetrators. We hope that based on such fact-finding and apologies from the perpetrators, a historic reconciliation involving forgiveness from the victims and affected parties can be achieved."

They also added, "We expect that based on this historic reconciliation, the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising will be included in the preamble of the constitution through a future constitutional amendment."

The union noted, "It is known that the May 18 Fact-Finding Investigation Committee, formed by bipartisan agreement under a special law, has recently begun its activities," and said, "We expect them to promptly and clearly uncover the still unresolved issues related to May 18."

The union emphasized, "During the complete fact-finding process regarding May 18, sincere confessions from the perpetrators seem necessary," and argued, "Jeon Du-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who held power at the time and were responsible for the May 18 massacre, should be the first to honestly confess the situation at that time and sincerely apologize to the victims and affected parties, which would be the right course of action."

They further suggested, "If this happens, the bereaved families and victims will also find the courage to forgive them."

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[Statement] We hope the 40th anniversary of May 18 will be a starting point for complete fact-finding and historic reconciliation.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. We respectfully honor the spirits of the May 18 martyrs and pray for their peaceful rest.

May 18 holds great historical significance as a stepping stone for our country's democratization movement. At the same time, it remains a tragic ongoing event with many victims and affected parties who were sacrificed simply for demanding democracy or without knowing the reasons.

We recognize that our country's democracy stands firmly on the sacrifices of May 18. Seven years later, the nationwide June Struggle for democratization arose as a result of the blood paid by the unjustly sacrificed citizens at that time. It cannot be denied that the current 1987 Constitution, which can be considered our country's first democratic constitution, was ultimately created as an extension of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

Although 40 years have passed since May 18, the truth has not yet been fully revealed. Most importantly, the final person responsible for ordering the martial law troops to fire on the citizens has not been officially identified. The reality of the controversial helicopter shootings has not been clearly disclosed. The whereabouts of many missing persons remain unknown. The recently reported secretly buried remains in the media need to be confirmed as those of the May 18 missing persons. The newly raised issue of sexual violence by martial law troops against women at that time is also a task that must be clarified.

It is known that the May 18 Fact-Finding Investigation Committee, formed by bipartisan agreement under a special law, has recently begun its activities. We expect them to promptly and clearly uncover the still unresolved issues related to May 18. During the complete fact-finding process regarding May 18, sincere confessions from the perpetrators seem necessary. Jeon Du-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, who held power at the time and were responsible for the May 18 massacre, should be the first to honestly confess the situation at that time and sincerely apologize to the victims and affected parties, which would be the right course of action. If this happens, the bereaved families and victims will also find the courage to forgive them.

On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of May 18, we hope for a complete fact-finding of the still undisclosed facts related to May 18, confirmation and punishment of the final orderers who fired on unarmed citizens, and sincere confessions and apologies from the perpetrators. We also hope that based on such fact-finding and apologies from the perpetrators, a historic reconciliation involving forgiveness from the victims and affected parties can be achieved. Furthermore, we expect that based on this, the spirit of the May 18 Democratic Uprising will be included in the preamble of the constitution through a future constitutional amendment.

We pray that the 40th anniversary of May 18 this year will serve as a starting point for complete fact-finding and historic reconciliation. Wouldn't such a process unite our people, further develop our country's democracy, and strengthen it?

We, the National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union, once again console the spirits of the May 18 martyrs and pray for their peaceful rest on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of May 18.

May 18, 2020.

National Integrated Public Officials Labor Union