Civic Group Urges Government and Ruling Party to Stop 'Taming Civic Groups'

Press Conference by 82 Gwangju Civic Groups Including the Forced Mobilization Citizens' Association

Civil society organizations in the Gwangju area have called for the suspension of the 'Special Committee for the Advancement of Civil Society Organizations' promoted by the People Power Party.

Eighty-two civic groups in the Gwangju area held a press conference on the afternoon of the 8th in front of the People Power Party Gwangju City Party Office in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, urging the government and ruling party to stop suppressing civic groups.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

Eighty-two civil society organizations in the Gwangju area, including the Forced Mobilization Citizens' Association, held a press conference on the afternoon of the 8th in front of the People Power Party Gwangju City Party Office in Chipyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, stating, "The People Power Party is intensifying its 'crackdown on civil society organizations' under the pretext of normalizing fake civil society organizations disguised as genuine ones."

The groups said, "Although the chairman and secretary-general of the Korean Metal Workers' Union of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions were not violent but peacefully installed a watchtower to support subcontracted workers at POSCO in Gwangyang and were protesting, the police deployed a special task force and brutally injured two Korean Metal Workers' Union officials," adding, "Despite the injuries requiring four weeks of medical treatment, the government and ruling party's decision to detain them is unacceptable while mentioning normalization of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civil society."

They continued, "The very idea of taming civil society, which monitors those in power for national sovereignty and the stability of citizens' lives, oversees state policies, and restricts necessary policies, is fundamentally wrong," emphasizing, "In a healthy society, a healthy nation, and with healthy power, cooperation with civil society is essential for reflection."

They also pointed out, "Over time, People Power Party and far-right group officials have obstructed Supreme Court rulings and their enforcement, insulted victims, pressured organizations, and consistently catered to the Japanese government," questioning, "What kind of shame do these people have now to suppress civil society organizations while invoking victims' human rights?"

A representative of the Gwangju civil society and labor organizations who agreed to co-sign said, "Labeling civil labor organizations dedicated to social public interest as subversive and attempting to suppress them is a regressive and anachronistic idea that seeks to turn back the clock on democracy and history built with the blood and tears of countless people," adding, "Now, we will stand firm against the historical regression of the Yoon administration and the People Power Party's crackdown on civil society organizations, fighting to the end without yielding to any insult or oppression."