People Power Party Fresh Lawmakers Head to Gwangju... "Not a One-Time Visit, Will Come Often"

Tribute at 5·18 Democratic Cemetery... Also Urging Jeon Du-hwan to Attend Appeal Trial

Members of the People Power Party's first-term lawmakers are paying their respects at the Memorial Tower of the National 5.18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 10th.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] First-term lawmakers of the People Power Party visited Gwangju to pay their respects at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery.

Following the visit of Kim Ki-hyun, Acting President and Floor Leader of the People Power Party, on the 7th, local political circles analyze that the unusual visit of first-term lawmakers to the May 18th Cemetery signals a serious effort to win over public sentiment in Honam.

At around 11:20 a.m. on the 10th, eleven first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party?Kim Mi-ae, Kim Hyung-dong, Park Hyung-soo, Yoon Joo-kyung, Lee Young, Lee Jong-sung, Seo Jeong-sook, Jo Su-jin, Jo Tae-yong, Kim Jae-seop, and Chun Ha-ram?arrived at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Their tightly pressed lips and solemn expressions strangely matched the heavily clouded sky.

The lawmakers lined up in front of the Democracy Gate, the entrance to the May 18th Cemetery, bowed in greeting, and proceeded toward the cemetery grounds.

In the guestbook, they wrote, “To the spirits of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, we will do our best to carry on the spirit of patriotism, fairness, communication, and unity that you pursued and to bring honor to our country. We offer our respect and gratitude.”

After offering incense and paying tribute at the Memorial Tower, they visited the graves of martyrs Yoon Sang-won and Jeon Jae-soo, gently touching their tombstones.

Some lawmakers wiped away tears as they heard stories such as the recent discovery of a photo of martyr Jeon Jae-soo, who was 11 years old during the May 18th incident, and the replacement of his tombstone photo after 41 years on the 5th.

Members of the People Power Party's first-term lawmakers are cleaning tombstones after paying respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Gwangju on the 10th.

After the memorial service, each lawmaker took responsibility for one tombstone and carefully cleaned it.

Ignoring the dirt on their pants, they knelt down and diligently wiped the tombstones with white cloths until they were covered in soil.

On this day, the first-term lawmakers conveyed a message of hope to the citizens of Gwangju and Jeonnam and reaffirmed their commitment.

The lawmakers said, “The May 1980 uprising of Gwangju citizens against the unjust violence of the regime embodied the era’s aspiration for democratization,” adding, “This Gwangju spirit continued into the June Democratic Uprising of 1987.”

They continued, “May 18th is not the possession of any particular class or political party but belongs to everyone in the context of the struggle for democratization, and it is important that everyone carries it forward,” asserting, “The sacrifice of Gwangju against the Chun Doo-hwan military regime is historically undeniable, and the judicial evaluation has been concluded.”

Furthermore, they said, “Now, the Gwangju spirit should become a seed of unity and harmony,” and “We, the first-term lawmakers of the People Power Party, have come to Gwangju to ignite the flame of unity and harmony through the Gwangju spirit, and we will continue to visit regularly, not just once.”

They also emphasized, “Gwangju is the holy ground of democracy in the Republic of Korea. Political awareness here is higher than anywhere else,” and “Even aside from May 18th, we will meet frequently and show the will of the People Power Party for change and reform.”

They added, “We will listen carefully to the voices of the citizens of Gwangju and Jeonnam and faithfully convey them to the party and senior lawmakers.”

Regarding former President Chun Doo-hwan’s absence from the first appeal trial on the same day, where he was found guilty in the first trial of defaming the late Father Cho Bi-o, they also spoke out.

Lawmaker Park Hyung-soo said, “I feel anger and regret that the truth about May 18th has not been properly revealed for over 40 years,” and “Former President Chun Doo-hwan must appear at the appeal trial, clearly tell the truth of that time, and apologize to the citizens of Gwangju to work toward national unity.”

Afterward, they will return to Seoul after viewing Norman Soff’s photo exhibition at the former Jeonnam Provincial Office and touring the Asia Culture Center in the afternoon.