Prosecution Finds Guilty and Suspends Indictment in '5·18 Minjuhwa Movement' Case... Proceeding with Honor Restoration Process

Promotion of Rehabilitation Including Retrial and Deferred Prosecution... Dispositions of 'Not Guilty Recommendation' and 'No Crime'
5·18 Related Case Parties and Bereaved Families Apply for Procedure Initiation at Prosecutor's Offices Nationwide

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The prosecution plans to proceed with procedures for restoring honor, such as retrials and reopening of cases with suspended prosecution, if individuals have suffered disadvantages due to guilty verdicts or suspended prosecution decisions related to the May 18 Democratic Movement.

On the 25th, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office instructed local prosecutors' offices to carry out retrial procedures for cases related to the May 18 Democratic Movement. If a person or their bereaved family members have received a guilty verdict or a suspended prosecution decision related to the May 18 Democratic Movement, they can visit the prosecution office's civil affairs office to apply for the initiation of related procedures. Information on eligibility and procedures is posted on the websites of prosecutors' offices nationwide.

So far, the prosecution has filed ex officio retrials for a total of 183 people who were sentenced guilty in May 18-related cases, resulting in confirmed acquittals, and has continuously promoted restoration of honor by changing the status of 31 cases with suspended prosecution to "not guilty (justifiable act recognized)."

For example, the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office filed an ex officio retrial last April for the late Lee So-seon (mother of the late Jeon Tae-il). Additionally, the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office changed the status of 23 individuals with suspended prosecution for violations of martial law this month to "not guilty." In a retrial held this month at the Daegu District Court regarding the martial law violation case involving university students in the 1980s who revealed the truth about the May 18 Democratic Movement, the prosecution requested a not guilty verdict.

The Supreme Prosecutors' Office explained that if the facts are confirmed through court retrials or prosecution reopening and the verdict is changed to acquittal or "not guilty," individuals can not only restore their honor but also receive criminal compensation according to certain criteria.

Since May 18-related cases are dispersed across prosecutors' offices nationwide, following the Supreme Prosecutors' Office's directive, each local prosecutors' office plans to actively review whether such cases exist.