5·18 Foundation and Korea Journalists Association Join Hands to Uphold the Values of 5·18

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 5·18 Memorial Foundation and the Korea Journalists Association have joined hands to inherit the historical truth and value of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

On the 24th, the 5·18 Foundation announced that it had agreed to mutually cooperate and carry out joint projects with the Korea Journalists Association.

Accordingly, both parties decided to undertake various projects, including joint responses to distortion and disparagement of the May 18 event, and discussions on measures to reject malicious fake news.

Kim Donghoon, president of the Korea Journalists Association, stated, “The Korea Journalists Association will take the lead to ensure that the substantial truth of May 18 is clearly and unequivocally revealed,” adding, “We will also do our best to restore the honor of dismissed journalists who suffered hardships such as dismissal and imprisonment while striving to report the truth of May 18.”

Jung Dongnyeon, chairman of the 5·18 Foundation, said, “Illegal dismissals and disciplinary actions against journalists for media control continued through the regimes of Park Chung-hee, Chun Doo-hwan, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye,” and added, “Remembering the Gwangju massacre and media massacre by the Chun Doo-hwan new military regime, the joint projects carried out by the Korea Journalists Association and the Foundation should serve as a safety pin to prevent similar tragedies from recurring in this land.”

Ko Seungwoo, co-representative of the 1980 Dismissed Journalists Association, emphasized, “The inclusion of journalists forcibly dismissed in 1980 as related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising means that the distorted history of the Gwangju uprising over 41 years has been corrected,” and expressed hope that “the Korea Journalists Association and the 5·18 Memorial Foundation will collaborate to lay the foundation for commemorating the Gwangju uprising as a nationwide struggle against the new military regime.”

Meanwhile, the 5·18 Memorial Foundation published “The May 18 Democratic Uprising and the Media Struggle” (2014) to reveal the truth about the dismissal of journalists in 1980 and to remember their efforts. It also awards the 5·18 Media Award annually in cooperation with the Gwangju Jeonnam Journalists Association.

The Korea Journalists Association established May 20 as “Journalists’ Day” in 2006 to honor the journalists’ struggle against the new military regime during the May uprising period, and holds joint events such as forums with the 5·18 Memorial Foundation. It also sponsors the 5·18 Media Award.