Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop "Opposes National Honors Such as Jeon Du-hwan's State Funeral"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, emphasized regarding the death of Jeon Du-hwan, “The proud steps of May Gwangju to set the unfinished history straight will continue without pause.”

On the 23rd, the mayor stated in a press release, “The sinner of history, Jeon Du-hwan, has died. He ended his life firmly closing his mouth about the truth of May 18 without a single apology to the May spirits and democratic citizens.”

He continued, “The death without reflection and apology provokes grief and anger among the citizens of Gwangju,” and “We strongly regret the deceased who disappeared into the back alleys of history, ignoring the May families who have lived with bitter resentment for over 40 years and the democratic citizens who cried out to set the history of May straight through true apology and fact-finding.”

He also stated, “Death can never be a pardon. The historical responsibility of national leaders is eternal beyond life and death,” and “The heavy sins Jeon Du-hwan committed against history and the people cannot be absolved even after death, and those sins must be eternally recorded in history to serve as a lesson for future generations.”

Furthermore, he emphasized, “Any mourning for Jeon Du-hwan, who annihilated democracy and betrayed the nation and its people, is inappropriate,” and “The 1.5 million citizens of Gwangju clearly oppose any state honors such as a state funeral for Jeon Du-hwan.”