It has been confirmed that civilians were killed by martial law troops after the suppression operation during the May 18 Democratic Uprising in May 1980.
On the 16th, the May 18 Truth Investigation Committee announced at a public briefing that it confirmed the fact that martial law troops killed civilians immediately after the suppression operation ended on May 27, 1980, through a series of photographs taken by a French photographer and testimonies.
According to the testimony of Patrick Chauvel, a French photographer who covered the scene during the May 18 events and was secured by the investigation committee, immediately after the suppression operation ended on May 27, a man named Kim, who came out of the YMCA building, was shot and fell by martial law troops who were nearby. While lying down, Kim raised his hand toward Patrick Chauvel, who was reporting from the 8th floor of the Jeonil Building, and shouted "Help me," and at the same time, a martial law soldier on an armored vehicle fired a gun at Chauvel.
Chauvel hid his body and went out to the scene after some time, only to find that Kim had already died. Kim’s autopsy report states that he died from "multiple gunshot wounds to the entire body."
Additionally, Chauvel testified that when he took photos of the body of martyr Yoon Sang-won in the meeting room on the 2nd floor of the Civil Affairs Office of the Jeonnam Provincial Government after the suppression operation ended on the 27th, there were other deceased victims present. The investigation committee plans to continue investigating this matter. Furthermore, the committee is also conducting an investigation to identify the martial law troops in the photo of the armored vehicle that fired at Chauvel and to comprehensively re-examine the situation on the ground.
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