About 30 Members of the Special Forces Comrades Association Pay Tribute at the 5·18 Cemetery
On the afternoon of the 15th, about 30 members of the Special Forces Comrades Association saluted the spirits of the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Min Chanki
In May 1980, martial law troops deployed to Gwangju under the orders of the commander-in-chief of the South Korean military declared the '12·3 Emergency Martial Law Incident' as an act of anti-state rebellion, urging that "the political use of soldiers must be stopped."
On the afternoon of the 15th, about 30 members of the Special Forces Veterans Association visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, stating, "The 12·3 Martial Law was an act of rebellion by anti-state forces that endangered national security," and "Those who sympathized with it must be subject to military law and sentenced to death."
The cemetery visit proceeded in the order of the Special Forces Veterans Association's statement release, flower offering and incense burning, salute and silent tribute to the May 18 victims, a memorial prayer by Pastor Park Byung-joo of Open Church, and a visit to the graves of the missing persons.
Before the visit, they issued a statement at the Gate of Democracy, saying, "The military is a group that lives on morale, and it is a collective inherently destined to carry out any orders," and criticized, "President Yoon, as the commander-in-chief of the military, disregarded the future of the Republic of Korea to maintain power, inciting rebellion and shattering the military's morale."
They also lamented, "This is clearly an anti-state treasonous act that ruined the lives of the people. Whenever a small number of political soldiers attempted to seize power in the past, the Special Forces were always at the forefront among numerous military units," adding, "As a result, the Special Forces were stigmatized as rebels and became a unit condemned by the public."
They continued, "We ask politicians and the public to protect the Republic of Korea Special Forces soldiers from ever being used again by anti-state rebel forces," and appealed, "It is being revealed that the troops dispatched during the recent '12·3 Martial Law' were deployed without understanding the reasons. We hope the public will forgive the mid- and lower-ranking officers and enlisted personnel."
On the 15th, Special Forces comrades paid their respects with flowers and bows at the burial site of the missing persons in the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Min Chanki
Pastor Park also said in his memorial prayer, "The comrades who visited today still feel heartache over the May 18 incident that happened over 40 years ago. We extend our condolences to the victims' families and those who contributed," and added, "Even now, young soldiers are working hard to defend the homeland at the armistice line, in the sky, and at sea. We hope the military will not be reduced to a tool for politicians."
Jeon Sang-bu (69), former president of the Special Forces Veterans Association, said, "I have been visiting the May 18 cemetery for several years. Although soldiers were dispatched under orders during May 18, I sympathize with the painful events," emphasizing, "Seeing the 707th unit deployed under this emergency martial law saddened me as a senior. Soldiers should not be used for political gains by being labeled as rebels."
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