Condemnation of 5·18 Historical Distortion... The Spirit of 5·18 Must Be Included in the Constitution
The Jeonnam Provincial Party of the Justice Party issued a statement on the 18th, claiming that President Yoon Seok-yeol's May 18th commemorative speech is an insult to the democracy that the May spirits defended with their blood against the state violence of the Chun Doo-hwan military regime 43 years ago.
The Jeonnam Provincial Party of the Justice Party criticized, “President Yoon Seok-yeol said that he must boldly confront and fight all forces and challenges threatening freedom and democracy, and must have such practical courage,” calling this “a statement threatening the people resisting Yoon Seok-yeol's prosecutorial dictatorship. As we mark the 43rd anniversary of May 18th, it must be clearly understood that the one threatening democracy is none other than President Yoon Seok-yeol himself.”
On the 18th, they condemned the distortion of the May 18 history and urged that the spirit of May 18 be enshrined in the Constitution. [Photo by Jeongui Party Jeonnam Provincial Party]
In particular, they said, “We are very well aware that President Yoon Seok-yeol, government officials, and political prosecutors who have damaged and belittled the spirit of May 18th are intimidating the people, denying democracy, and insulting the May spirit.”
They also stated, “The spirit of May is sublimated and completed through freedom, creativity, and innovation by the industrial achievements and economic development of Gwangju and Honam,” but questioned, “How exactly is the May spirit sublimated and completed when Honam achieves industrial success? It makes us doubt whether President Yoon Seok-yeol even knows what the May spirit is.”
The Jeonnam Provincial Party of the Justice Party said, “The 43rd anniversary commemorative speech of May 18th is almost identical to the 42nd anniversary speech. The people and the May spirits do not want such a commemorative speech,” adding, “We want to ask whether this speech, which equates liberal democracy and the economy, aligns with the spirit of May 18th. President Yoon Seok-yeol should have publicly declared to the people the condemnation of the ongoing distortion of May 18th history and the constitutional inclusion of the May 18th spirit.”
They concluded by stating, “We will boldly protect democracy against challenges that threaten the May spirit.”
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