5·18 Group Leaders: "There Is a Behind-the-Scenes Power Behind 5·18... We Are Just Figureheads"

The public law organizations, the 5·18 Democratic Movement Injured Persons Association and the Meritorious Persons Association, are experiencing internal turmoil amid allegations of embezzlement and misappropriation of state subsidies following their own audit results, while the heads of the organizations have claimed the existence of unofficial power brokers.

At the office of the 5·18 Victims Association in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, on the morning of the 13th, Jeong Seong-guk of the 5·18 Contributors Association (left) and Hwang Il-bong, president of the 5·18 Victims Association, are holding a press conference for a confession of conscience.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

On the morning of the 13th, the 5·18 Democratic Movement Injured Persons Association and the Meritorious Persons Association held a press conference at the 5·18 Injured Persons Association office in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, stating, "Until now, the 5·18 organizations have been controlled by a specific member, Mr. A (62), and we were merely figurehead presidents."

They said, "It is true that during the transition of the 5·18 organizations from a private corporation to a public law organization, Mr. A, who was active as an executive in the detained and injured persons associations, played an important role by utilizing human resources," adding, "Mr. A used his financial power to involve himself in all affairs behind the scenes of the organizations, and all documents had to be reviewed by him."

They also stated, "When the organization was not operated according to his wishes, he resorted to verbal abuse and misconduct, creating an atmosphere of fear," and lamented, "Given this situation, the heads of the organizations had to act as figurehead presidents to maintain their positions."

They continued, "For the organization to normalize even now, Mr. A must be removed from the 5·18 organizations. We feel ashamed and sorry to the citizens of Gwangju and the meritorious persons, and we will correct the problems with a mindset of thorough reform."

The 5·18 Injured Persons Association and Meritorious Persons Association, which receive subsidies from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, are undergoing internal strife as some members have filed internal complaints alleging embezzlement or private use of the funds.