Lee Hae-chan: "The May 18 Democratic Uprising Must Remain as History to Be Inherited in the Preamble of the Constitution"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum, Gwangju=Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] On the 18th, marking the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said, "I firmly believe that the May 18 Democratic Uprising, along with the March 1st Movement and the April 19 Revolution, should remain as history we must inherit in the preamble of the Constitution."

At the on-site Supreme Council meeting held at Jeonil Building 245 in Dong-gu, Gwangju, Lee said, "May 18 was the driving force of Korean democratization, the foundation for the birth of a democratic government, and the source of the development of Korean democracy."

He continued, "The Democratic Party is the party that protects Korean democracy, the party of the April 19 Revolution, the Bu-Ma Uprising, May 18, the June Struggle, and the Candlelight Revolution," adding, "The Democratic Party's victory in the 21st general election is a victory for democracy, a victory for the Candlelight Revolution, and a victory for the history of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement."

Lee pointed out, "The 245 bullet marks on Jeonil Building are still vivid, yet the military rebel leaders shamelessly deny even this fact," and said, "Behind the freedom of expression gained through the democratization movement, shameless people are spreading fake news and distorting the May 18 event and its merit recipients."

He emphasized, "Our party will never stand idly by," and added, "The 21st National Assembly will enact a special law to punish this shameless behavior within the bounds of the Constitution."

Lee also said, "I held a hearing in Gwangju in 1988-89, during which I painstakingly obtained military-related documents and made diligent efforts to uncover the truth based on those materials," and added, "However, it was recently revealed that the documents submitted to us at that time were altered by the military authorities over the years. I feel angry because I was subjected to such an absurd deception."

He stated, "Although nine investigations into the truth have been conducted so far, they were not thorough. This time, we will thoroughly uncover the truth buried in May 18," and said, "Since the activities of the Truth Investigation Committee are guaranteed through this special law, the Democratic Party and the government will fully support the committee's activities to ensure that all truths are revealed."