"5·18 Helicopter Shooting Occurred"... Court Finds Jeon Du-hwan Guilty of Defamation of the Deceased (Comprehensive)

Former President Jeon Du-hwan and his wife Lee Soon-ja are leaving their home in Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, to attend the first trial sentencing for defamation of the deceased at the Gwangju District Court on the 30th. Former President Jeon was charged with defamation for criticizing Father Cho Bi-o, who testified to witnessing helicopter gunfire during the May 18 incident, in his autobiography as "a shameless liar unworthy of being called a priest." Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] The court sentenced former President Jeon Du-hwan to prison for defamation of the late Father Cho Bi-o, who testified about the helicopter gunfire by martial law troops during the May 18 Democratic Movement. The court also acknowledged the military's helicopter gunfire directed at its own citizens during the May 18 Democratic Movement period.

On the 30th, Judge Kim Jeong-hoon of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 8 sentenced Jeon, who was indicted for defamation of the deceased, to 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation.

Jeon was indicted without detention on charges of defamation of the deceased for describing Father Cho, who testified to witnessing helicopter gunfire during the May 18 Democratic Movement in his memoir published in April 2017, as a "Satan wearing a mask" and a "shameless liar."

In March of last year, Jeon appeared at the first trial session and denied the helicopter gunfire. After the change of the presiding judge, Jeon appeared again and continued the same claim, stating, "As far as I know, there was no gunfire from helicopters at that time." In April, he also insisted in court, "As far as I know, there was no gunfire from helicopters at that time," and his lawyer argued that the prosecution failed to find direct evidence, thus the charges were unfounded.

The prosecution previously requested a sentence of 1 year and 6 months imprisonment for Jeon. The statutory penalty for defamation of the deceased is imprisonment or detention of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 5 million won. The prosecution argued, "Mocking those who remember historical pain should not be justified by freedom of expression, historical relativism, or positivism."

On this day, the court based its guilty verdict mainly on the situation witnessed by Father Cho on May 21. Chief Judge Kim explained, "Whether helicopter gunfire occurred is a historically very important issue," and added, "Considering the defendant's position and actions during the May 18 period, it could be recognized, at least implicitly, that helicopter gunfire took place."

Regarding Jeon, the judge pointed out, "The defendant never reflected or apologized throughout the trial, undermining the purpose of the special pardon, and published a memoir blaming the victim to secure his own legitimacy, which is highly condemnable." However, since this was not a trial about the May 18 Movement itself, the court judged from the perspective of the victim's violated rights and explained the reason for not imposing a prison sentence.

Additionally, before sentencing, the presiding judge expressed hope that the defendant, who bears the greatest responsibility for the May 18 Democratic Movement, would sincerely apologize to the many citizens who have suffered. However, Jeon appeared drowsy throughout the trial on this day as well.