Chairman Duties Suspended... Chairman Hwang Says "Procedural and Regulatory Flaws, Invalid"
The 5·18 public law organization, which has been experiencing internal turmoil amid various allegations such as embezzlement of national subsidies and influence peddling by unofficial power brokers, has decided to suspend the duties of its chairman. The chairman, whose disciplinary action has been confirmed, is opposing the decision, claiming there were serious procedural flaws in the resolution process, deepening internal conflicts.
According to the 5·18 Democratic Movement Injured Persons Association on the 6th, the association held the 23-6th extraordinary board meeting the day before and passed a disciplinary proposal to suspend Chairman Hwang Il-bong's membership rights for five years.
Hwang Il-bong, chairman of the May 18 Democratic Uprising Victims Association, is holding a press conference on the 14th of last month at the Victims Association office within the May 18 Memorial Foundation in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City. [Photo by Min Hyun-gi]
At the extraordinary board meeting, six out of nine members attended and the proposal was unanimously approved. With Chairman Hwang's membership rights suspended, his duties as chairman are also suspended. According to the bylaws, Executive Vice Chairman Moon Jong-yeon will act as interim chairman, and a new chairman will be elected at the general meeting early next year.
Chairman Hwang is opposing the board's disciplinary proposal itself, claiming it is invalid. The disciplinary proposal was submitted by the association's Disciplinary Review Committee, but all members of that committee have been suspended from their positions.
Earlier, on the 6th of last month, the association held an emergency board meeting regarding Chairman Hwang's dismissal proposal. The following day, on the 7th, the Disciplinary Review Committee held a closed meeting, during which Chairman Hwang appeared and caused a disturbance.
When he was blocked from entering the meeting room due to the closed nature of the meeting, Chairman Hwang immediately notified the suspension of seven people on the spot, including the Secretary General, the Director of Organization, the Chair of the Disciplinary Committee, and other disciplinary committee members.
The Disciplinary Review Committee members filed an injunction with the court to suspend the effect of the suspensions, arguing that the suspension notices were issued without proper procedures and violated regulations, and submitted Chairman Hwang's disciplinary proposal to the board. The court's decision on the injunction is expected on the 11th.
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