Jeon Woo-won "To Gwangju after arriving at Incheon Airport"
5·18 groups show conflicting reactions
Jeon Woo-won (27), the grandson of Jeon Du-hwan, announced on the 26th that he would head to Gwangju after returning to Korea on the 28th to meet with the bereaved families of the May 18 Democratic Movement.
On the 26th, Jeon Woo-won shared on his Instagram a screenshot of his flight reservation showing his departure from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York at 12:50 AM on the 27th and arrival at Incheon International Airport at 5:20 AM on the 28th.
Jeon said, "I will go straight to Gwangju after arriving at Incheon Airport," and added, "I don't know anything and don't know where to go to meet the bereaved families," asking for help.
In another post on the same day, Jeon stated, "I have no idea if I will go to prison or what will happen when I go to Korea," but added, "If I enter Korea and am not immediately detained by government agencies, I want to unpack my luggage and visit the May 18 Memorial Cultural Center to apologize to the bereaved families and all those who suffered mental damage from this incident."
In another post, he apologized, saying, "I am sorry for hurting and upsetting many people, including the bereaved families and victims of the Gwangju Democratic Movement, who trusted and supported me despite my ignorance and shortcomings." He continued, "If there is a way for me to atone for my sins as much as my family and I have done wrong and as much as the citizens of Gwangju have suffered, please tell me. I will accept any punishment you want."
However, May 18 organizations showed mixed reactions in interviews with various media outlets. Some expressed that "there is no need to view his intention to reflect negatively," while others said, "Since Jeon's sincerity is unclear, he should undergo drug treatment and study history before apologizing."
On the 17th, during a YouTube live broadcast, Jeon mentioned various drugs, appeared to be using them, and exhibited hallucinations, which led to him being taken to a hospital. In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Narcotics Crime Investigation Unit stated that if Jeon returns to Korea, they will require his attendance to investigate whether he used drugs and the circumstances, and if necessary, convert him into a suspect.
However, both the prosecution and police reportedly said they would monitor the situation after Jeon's arrival and have no plans to immediately start an investigation or secure his custody following his return.
Meanwhile, since the 14th, Jeon has been making revelations about his family and acquaintances through social media. Notably, he labeled his grandfather Jeon Du-hwan as a mass murderer and claimed that Jeon Du-hwan and his family portrayed the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Movement as a riot.
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