[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 5·18 Democratic Movement Truth Investigation Committee announced on the 27th that it has secured records showing that Jeon Du-hwan, the Security Commander during the 5·18 Democratic Movement, was involved in the activation of self-defense rights and the Gwangju suppression operation.
The 5·18 Investigation Committee obtained these records from a document prepared by the 2nd Army Command titled ‘Military Instructions and Measures during the Chungjeong Operation in the Gwangju Area.’
The document, dated May 23, 1980, includes a proposal by Jin Jong-chae, the 2nd Army Commander, for the Chungjeong Operation (Gwangju re-entry operation), which records that “Your Excellency said ‘Good Idea.’”
Jeon Du-hwan’s involvement in the activation of self-defense rights by the martial law troops suppressing Gwangju has already been known through sources such as ‘Suppression of the Riot and Its Lessons’ and ‘The History of the Fifth Republic.’
Meeting documents attended by Defense Minister Joo Young-bok, Army Chief of Staff Lee Hee-sung, the 2nd Army Commander, the Joint Security Command Chief, the Capital Defense Command Commander, the Special Forces Commander, and the Korea Military Academy Superintendent state, “Former Excellency: Emphasized activation of self-defense rights against sentries in case of riot according to military service regulations.”
The record of this meeting is noted in the diary of Chief of Staff Lee Hee-sung, indicating it was held on May 21, 1980, from 4:35 PM to 6:15 PM, lasting 1 hour and 40 minutes.
The Investigation Committee explained that this meeting of the New Military Command, held earlier than the 7:30 PM declaration of self-defense rights possession by the Martial Law Commander on the same day, suggests that Jeon Du-hwan, then the Security Commander and the actual power holder, emphasized the activation of self-defense rights.
The 5·18 Investigation Committee is meticulously tracing the relationship between this fact and the final approval of the activation of self-defense rights or the de facto order to fire, using domestic and international materials including secret U.S. cables.
An official from the Investigation Committee stated, “We will ensure that this fact surpasses the majority of the public’s presumed suspicion that Jeon Du-hwan, the Security Commander, was the final and substantive approver of the Gwangju suppression operation, reaching irrefutable decisive evidence. We will secure confessions from related persons and present additional investigation results by May next year that correspond to the historical truth.”
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