"5·18 Denigrating Remarks... Because They Serve Political and Economic Interests"

Jeonnam National University Professor "Investigation Results, Need to Wait and See"
"Internalization of Dichotomous Thinking Since the Korean War"

Professor Choi Jeong-gi, a former director of the 5·18 Research Institute at Chonnam National University and a professor in the Department of Sociology at Chonnam National University, pointed to the social environment that allows political and economic interests to be gained as the problem behind the flood of disparaging and distorting remarks related to the May 18 Democratic Movement.

On the 18th, Professor Choi appeared on KBS Radio's "Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs" and, regarding the view of May 18 from a partisan perspective by some, said, "Since the Korean War, there has been an internalized perspective of viewing (social issues) in a dichotomous way, and there is still an aspect of not being able to escape from that." He added, "The issue of settling past affairs has been carried out by translating it into an individual problem."

On the 16th, two days before the 43rd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, children are laying flowers at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

He continued, "At that time, due to the political environment, the settlement was made through compromise with those who had exercised past violence," and explained, "There are many people who hold the worldview that individuals can sacrifice for the country or that order must be maintained by any means, including violence, so such claims appear as interests." He also said, "In politics, political interests are gained, and YouTubers also receive economic benefits."

Regarding the achievements of the May 18 Democratic Movement Truth Investigation Committee (Investigation Committee), he said, "May 18 has the meaning of an uprising where the state exercised violence against citizens, and the citizens resisted," adding, "The uprising part includes civilians, so much investigation has been conducted. However, regarding state violence, the military's materials have not been well disclosed, and the current judgment is that the materials have been distorted multiple times."

He added, "The purpose of the Investigation Committee itself is to uncover such things, and there has been considerable progress," but also said, "Nevertheless, the full results of the truth investigation have not yet been revealed. For now, we have to wait and see."

Professor Choi also pointed out the trauma issues of May 18 survivors and bereaved families. He said, "The degree of trauma among (May 18 survivors and bereaved families) is significantly more severe than that of ordinary people, and their life indicators, including economic level, are generally poorer," adding, "Throughout 1980, they experienced discrimination at workplaces and in their surroundings. What they went through at that time is now reflected in their current economic level and life indicators."