"5·18 is a North Korean Riot" Jeon Gwang-hoon, Will He Be Punished Like Ji Man-won?

"Severe Punishment Requested" 5·18 Group Submits Complaint
Ji Man-won, Who Claimed 'North Korean Troops Involvement Theory,' Sentenced to 2 Years Imprisonment

Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, who made defamatory and distorted remarks about the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, has been reported to the police, drawing attention to the investigation results. Previously, Ji Man-won, who claimed the 'North Korean special forces involvement theory' and spread distorted claims about May 18, is currently serving a two-year prison sentence.

The public interest organizations, the May 18 Victims Association and the Meritorious Persons Association, filed a complaint against Pastor Jeon on the 2nd for his distorted remarks about May 18.

Hwang Il-bong, president of the May 18 Victims Association, stated in the complaint, "Pastor Jeon recently claimed at a rally held in Gwangju that May 18 was a riot caused by communist spies and Kim Dae-jung supporters, inflicting further pain on the victims of May 18 who have endured all kinds of suffering and lived unhappy lives for 43 years." He urged, "Please punish him severely so that the meaning of the May 18 democratic spirit, fought for by risking their lives for legitimate democracy, is no longer damaged."

President Hwang added, "I hope Pastor Jeon will be the last person to deceive the public with absurd fake news, distort history, and divide public opinion."

On the afternoon of the 27th of last month, Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church held the "National Tour Rally for Freedom Village" at Gwangju Station Square in Buk-gu, Gwangju. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, Pastor Jeon claimed at the 'National Tour Rally for Freedom Village' held at Gwangju Station in Buk-gu, Gwangju, that the May 18 Democratization Movement was the act of North Korean spies and that there was no helicopter shooting by the military during May 18. He also referred to the citizens who participated in the democratization movement as 'rioters.' The Gwangju Station square where he made these remarks is one of the historical sites of the May 18 Democratization Movement, where many casualties occurred due to mass shooting by martial law troops on the night of May 20, 1980.

This is similar to the claims made by Ji Man-won. Ji has referred to the citizens who participated in the May 18 Democratization Movement as 'North Korean special forces' on his website and has advocated the 'May 18 North Korean military involvement theory.' He also called the late Kim Sa-bok, a real person featured in the movie 'A Taxi Driver' based on the May 18 Democratization Movement, a 'communist.'

Ultimately, on January 12, the Supreme Court confirmed a two-year prison sentence for Ji, who was prosecuted for defaming the Gwangju citizens who participated in the May 18 Democratization Movement. Ji is currently detained at Seoul Detention Center.

Attempts to distort and defame the history of the May 18 Democratization Movement can be punished under Article 8 of the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement. According to this law, enacted in July last year, spreading false information about the May 18 Democratization Movement is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million won.