Jeon Du-hwan First Trial Sentenced to '8 Months Imprisonment, 2 Years Probation'... Citizens Say "Disappointed by Low Sentence"

Moment of Silence After Hearing Trial Result in Front of Gwangju District Court... Guilty Verdict Carries Positive Meaning

As the first trial sentence for Jeon Du-hwan's defamation of the late Father Cho Bi-o was handed down as 8 months in prison with a 2-year probation, May organizations have issued statements expressing regret over the relatively light sentence.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Around 3 p.m. on the 30th in front of the Gwangju District Court. When the first trial verdict for Jeon Du-hwan’s defamation of the late Father Jo Bi-o was announced, a momentary silence fell as if time had stopped.

When the sentence of “8 months imprisonment, 2 years probation” was announced, the citizens who had been waiting for the trial result felt that the sentence was lighter than expected.

The silence lasted only briefly, as voices shouting “Arrest Jeon Du-hwan” echoed from various places.

Jeon Seung-won (55) said, “I thought Jeon Du-hwan might be arrested this time, but as expected, it was probation,” and lamented, “He is someone who should have been in prison long ago, yet despite the guilty verdict, I am worried that he will continue to mock the citizens of Gwangju outside.”

The May 18 organizations also issued a statement expressing regret that the sentence was too light. However, they judged that the guilty verdict in the first trial held significance.

Father Jo Young-dae, nephew of the late Father Jo Bi-o, said, “The judge’s detailed review of each guilty charge against Jeon Du-hwan during the trial is something to be taken positively,” but added, “The disappointing part is that considering the historical weight and the insult inflicted on the citizens, the sentence is indeed regrettable.”

He continued, “Looking at how Ji Man-won and others, who are not responsible for May 18, received similar sentences to Jeon Du-hwan, there is a problem,” and emphasized, “However, today’s guilty verdict will be a starting point for uncovering the truth about May 18.”

Attorney Kim Jeong-ho stated, “Jeon Du-hwan, the main culprit of May 18, recently published a memoir causing secondary harm,” and argued, “This trial is formally about the defamation of the late Father Jo Bi-o’s honor, but essentially it is a trial to determine the historical fact of whether helicopter shootings occurred.”

He added, “Although it is regrettable that Jeon Du-hwan, the main culprit of May 18, received probation, this trial, which revealed the helicopter shootings as historical fact, can be seen as a positive aspect.”

Lee Cheol-woo, chairman of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, also supported this view.

He said, “Looking at the verdict, it was clear that the court deliberated deeply,” and added, “Since it was ruled that war and massacre were committed against the citizens, today is a day to renew our determination to return to the original intention and work harder in uncovering the truth.”

There were also hopes for a stricter judgment in the second trial through appeal.

Park Jae-man, standing representative of the Citizens’ Social Organizations Council, said, “The result was not much different from expectations. I regret the court’s somewhat lenient judgment on Jeon Du-hwan, who shows no sign of remorse,” and stated, “Civil society will support and encourage a stricter judgment.”

Meanwhile, Jeon was indicted for defamation after criticizing Father Jo Bi-o, who testified in his 2017 memoir that he witnessed helicopter shootings by the military during May 18, as a “shameless liar unworthy of being called a priest.” The prosecution sought a sentence of 1 year and 6 months imprisonment for Jeon.

In the first trial sentencing on this day, the judge ruled that it was sufficiently proven that shootings occurred on May 21 and 27, 1980, by 500MD and UH-1H helicopters respectively, and based on the May 21 situation witnessed by Father Jo, sentenced Jeon to 8 months imprisonment with 2 years probation.