Conflict Over Establishment of Public Legal Entity for Gwangju 5·18 Related Organizations

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Cho Hyung-joo] Physical clashes continued among related organizations over the establishment of the 5·18 public law organization.

According to the 5·18 Democratization Movement Meritorious Persons Association on the 17th, around 5 p.m. on the 14th, about 50 members of the Detained and Injured Members Association gathered at the entrance of the meeting hall where the preparatory committee was holding a meeting.

They engaged in a physical fight with members of the Meritorious Persons Association, and some were reportedly injured and transported to the hospital during the process.

The 5·18 Meritorious Persons Association was the first among the 5·18 organizations to receive approval from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on January 4 and was about to officially launch as a public law organization once the corporate registration was completed.

The 5·18 Meritorious Persons Association stated that since the Detained and Injured Members Association is automatically dissolved by law and their assets, rights, and obligations are to be comprehensively succeeded by the Meritorious Persons Association, members of the Detained and Injured Association attempted to forcibly enter the meeting room to prevent the situation.

Meanwhile, the 5·18 Meritorious Persons Association has filed a complaint with the Gwangju Dongbu Police Station regarding this assault incident, and the police are expected to begin an investigation.