"We Will Continue Searching for Families of the Missing Even After the 5·18 Investigation Committee Ends Its Activities"

Gwangju Metropolitan City is actively working to identify the missing persons from the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

Gwangju Metropolitan City, in collaboration with the Department of Forensic Medicine at Chonnam National University, has been conducting blood collection from the families of missing persons related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising since 2001. Following the enactment of the Special Act on the Investigation of the Truth of May 18 in 2019, the Truth Investigation Committee has carried out a genetic analysis project, completing genetic identification for 446 individuals as of the end of June, the city announced on the 23rd.

During the May 18 Democratic Uprising period, from May 18 to 27, 1980, a total of 242 people were reported missing. Among them, 14 families have not undergone blood collection. This is due to family refusal, the death of the reported missing person leaving no surviving family, or families residing overseas who do not consent to blood collection.

On the 14th, an additional missing person report related to May 18 (missing person Park OO) was received, and blood collection from the family was conducted. Genetic data analysis is ongoing on remains excavated and recovered from sites reported as secret burials.

Gwangju City and the Truth Investigation Committee plan to continue actively accepting reports of missing persons. They will also entrust the comparison and analysis of DNA from discovered remains to specialized institutions and include the results in the investigation activity reports.

As the activities of the Truth Investigation Committee are scheduled to end on December 26, Gwangju City has reflected the ‘blood collection and genetic analysis project’ in the 2024 budget to continue the ‘Missing Persons Family Search Project.’ The city also plans to receive the DNA analysis data and remains currently held by the Truth Investigation Committee.

Jung Seok-hee, Director of the May 18 Democratic Movement Division, stated, “During the May 18 Democratic Uprising, I had to witness the tragic fate of my family and neighbors. Unfortunately, many of them never returned, and to this day, their survival status and burial locations remain unknown. We will focus our efforts on fully supporting the Truth Investigation Committee’s activities to find every last victim who was secretly buried.”