Democratic Party: "Hope to Achieve National Unity Through 5·18 Truth Investigation"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Democratic Party of Korea expressed on the 12th its hope that complete fact-finding of the May 18 Democratic Uprising will lead to national unity.

Lee Yong-bin, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a written briefing, "The truths of that day in May 1980, which took place in Gwangju, are being revealed one by one."

He continued, "According to the report on the investigation progress conducted over one year since the start of the May 18 Democratic Uprising Fact-Finding Investigation Committee, testimonies have been secured that martial law troops deployed in Gwangju at the time used M60 machine guns, M1 rifles, and even snipers to kill citizens by aimed shooting," adding, "It has been confirmed that there were at least 13 incidents of vehicle shootings due to indiscriminate firing at vehicles and civilians."

He also stated, "They are currently identifying the perpetrators and victims involved in the case where a child as young as four years old was shot and secretly buried," emphasizing, "The whereabouts of 55 bodies that have not yet been identified are also being tracked."

In particular, regarding the theory of North Korean special forces infiltration, he said, "An investigation was conducted on a former North Korean soldier who was the first to claim that he personally infiltrated Gwangju as a North Korean special forces member, and meaningful testimony was obtained," and asserted, "Among the 616 detainees related to May 18 who were arrested and sent to prosecution, it has been confirmed that not a single one has charges or verdicts linking them to North Korea."

He added, "The bereaved families of the May 18 victims and the public are eagerly awaiting that the truth, buried for 41 years, will finally be revealed this time," and stated, "It is also absolutely necessary to directly investigate key figures of the new military regime, including Chun Doo-hwan, to verify testimonies about witnessing Chun Doo-hwan in Gwangju at the time, and to clarify the responsibility and circumstances of the first and collective shootings."

Furthermore, he added, "As stipulated in the May 18 Fact-Finding Special Act, we hope the Fact-Finding Investigation Committee will do its utmost to uncover historical truths, overcome the division of public opinion caused by conflicts, defamation, and distortion surrounding May 18, and achieve national unity."