5·18 Foundation Initiates Legal Action Against Ji Man-won's New Book

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 5·18 Memorial Foundation and the Gwangju Jeonnam Branch of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society 5·18 Special Committee are taking legal action against Ji Man-won's new book that distorts the history of the May 18 Democratic Movement.

According to the 5·18 Memorial Foundation on the 2nd, Ji Man-won published a book titled "North Korea 5·18 Arirang Mudeungsan Azalea 475 Flowers" last June. The book contains claims that the May 18 Democratic Movement was a plot by North Korean special forces.

The 5·18 Memorial Foundation judged that it has reached a point where a clear condemnation of Ji's misconduct is necessary and decided to take legal measures against this newly published book by Ji Man-won.

On the same day, the 5·18 Foundation and three organizations of May 18 Democratic Merit recipients filed a provisional injunction with the Gwangju District Court to prohibit the publication and distribution of the book, and simultaneously filed a civil damages lawsuit against Ji.

Another participant in the May 18 Democratic Movement plans to file a criminal complaint for "defamation by publication" regarding the false information contained in the book.

Civil and criminal lawsuits are being handled by lawyers Jeong In-gi, Choi Mok, Jeong Da-eun, and Park Soo-young from the Gwangju Jeonnam Branch of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society.

A representative of the 5·18 Memorial Foundation stated, "Currently, Ji Man-won is serving a two-year prison sentence in the first trial for defamation against those involved in the May 18 Democratic Movement through extra editions and book publications, and despite being under appeal, he has published another book causing defamation." He added, "The 5·18 Memorial Foundation and the 5·18 Special Committee of the Gwangju Jeonnam Branch of the Lawyers for a Democratic Society will continue to respond firmly to all acts of historical distortion related to the May 18 Democratic Movement."