May Group Files Damage Claim Against Professor Park Hoon-tak of Widoek University for '5·18 North Korean Military Riot Theory' Assertion

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The May Group has filed a lawsuit for damages against a professor who claimed in a university lecture that "the May 18 Incident was a criminal act committed by North Korean soldiers."

The May 18 Memorial Foundation, the May 18 Democratic Patriots' Families Association, and the May 18 Democratic Movement Injured Association announced on the 14th that they submitted a civil lawsuit petition to the Gwangju District Court against former professor Park Hoon-tak, who advocated the theory of a North Korean military riot during the May 18 Incident, on charges of defamation of the May 18 Incident.

They stated, "Former Professor Park's remarks, which did not merely introduce the already disproven 'North Korean military involvement theory' but asserted it as a historical fact with considerable grounds, constitute an act of stating false facts," and thus claimed damages.

They also said, "Professor Park's claims disparage the entire May Group and participants of the uprising, fostering prejudice and undermining the social value and evaluation of the May 18 Democratic Movement, causing intangible damage to the May Group, for which compensation is sought."

Meanwhile, in March, then Professor Park Hoon-tak of the Department of Police Administration at Wideok University described the May 18 Democratic Movement in his class as "a crime committed by North Korean soldiers and a citizen riot," and argued for the innocence of Jeon Du-hwan and Jim Won. He also assigned students a midterm project to examine whether the law punishing distortion of the May 18 Incident infringes on academic freedom and freedom of expression.

As criticism intensified, Professor Park apologized through a public video released by the student council, and the board of directors of Hoedang Academy ultimately decided to dismiss him. However, he has not retracted his claims, stating that he introduced other perspectives and his academic stance related to the May 18 Incident.