Jin Joong-kwon Criticizes 5·18 Special Law Push: "The First Regime to Set Back South Korean Democracy"

"Anti-Liberal Legislation"

Former Dongyang University Professor Jin Joong-kwon. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] As the Democratic Party of Korea decided to push related bills such as the '5·18 Historical Distortion Punishment Act' as party policy, former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon criticized on the 28th, saying, "This is anti-liberal legislation."

On the same day, Jin posted on his Facebook, "Various revisionist theories about the Korean War, such as the North Korean invasion theory, induced invasion theory, and the theory that a local war escalated into a full-scale war, are not punished, but punishing different views on the 5·18 event by law is unacceptable. To be fair, both sides should be punished," he said.

He pointed out, "The legislation by the Democratic Party generally shows an anti-liberal tendency," adding, "There is the Park Hyung-soon Prohibition Act that infringes on judicial independence, the punitive damages system that gagged the media, the pro-Japanese faction tomb removal law that tried to solve the issue of veterans affairs by law instead of leaving it to civil society consensus, and now a law forbidding dissent on the 5·18 event."

He continued, "The Democratic Party has fallen into self-contradiction," saying, "If you want to abolish the National Security Act's crime of praising and sympathizing with the enemy, you must also allow the biases of the opposing side to be logical. They even filibustered in the National Assembly opposing the Anti-Terrorism Act, but after coming to power, instead of abolishing it, they strengthened it by adding 'COVID-19.' I am concerned about the ruling party's anti-liberal tendencies."

He also said, "This administration has promoted two reforms. One is political reform, but they discarded it long ago after creating a puppet party," and "The remaining one is prosecution reform, but even that has gone off track. Now, under the banner of 'reform,' they are rather dismantling the liberal democratic systems one by one. The separation of powers is disappearing, and all power is concentrating in the Blue House."

Former professor Jin said, "I believe the Moon Jae-in administration will be recorded in history as the first regime to regress Korean democracy in the name of 'democracy,'" and "As the 586 generation solidified as the vested class, the so-called 'democratization narrative' began to have dysfunctional effects on this society."

Meanwhile, the special law on 5·18 proposed by the Democratic Party consists of the partial amendment bill of the Special Act on the 5·18 Democratic Movement (5·18 Historical Distortion Punishment Act) and the partial amendment bill of the Special Act for the Truth Investigation of the 5·18 Democratic Movement (5·18 Truth Investigation Special Act Amendment).

The 5·18 Historical Distortion Punishment Act, led by Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Hyung-seok, stipulates that anyone who spreads false information to deny, slander, distort, or fabricate the 5·18 Democratic Movement shall be punished by imprisonment of up to seven years or a fine of up to 70 million won.

The 5·18 Truth Investigation Special Act Amendment, led by Democratic Party lawmaker Seol Hoon, specifically includes areas requiring truth investigation such as responsibility for shooting, recovery of secretly buried remains, helicopter shootings, and sexual violence by martial law troops. It also expanded the geographical scope of the investigation considering human rights violations occurred in areas surrounding Gwangju.