Nationwide Libraries and Bookstores Prohibited from Access and Sale
May 18 Foundation to Actively Utilize Citizen Reports
The court has banned the publication and distribution of Ji Manwon's book, "42 Decisive Pieces of Evidence That the 5.18 Operation Was Carried Out by North Korea," which contains content that distorts and disparages the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.
According to the May 18 Memorial Foundation on the 22nd, the 11th Civil Division of the Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Court (Judges Song Jungho, Park Hyejin, and Hwang Hyeryeon) accepted the foundation's request for an injunction against Ji Manwon to prohibit the publication and distribution of the book.
The court stated, "The content can be seen as disparaging participants and groups related to the May 18 Democratization Movement and fostering prejudice," and added, "It can be considered as undermining the social status and reputation of those involved in the May 18 Democratization Movement, including the May 18 Memorial Foundation."
The court ruled that the book must not be published, issued, printed, reproduced, sold, distributed, or advertised without deleting certain parts as requested by the foundation. If this order is violated, Ji Manwon must pay 500,000 KRW per violation to the foundation, and all libraries and bookstores nationwide are prohibited from allowing access to or selling the book.
Previously, in February last year, the foundation filed for an injunction at the Gwangju District Court to ban the publication and distribution of a book by Ji Manwon that allegedly stated the falsehood that the May 18 Democratization Movement was a riot led by North Korean special forces. The case was later transferred to the Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Court.
The content of the book for which the court granted the injunction, judging it to be false, includes: ▲ Attacks by North Korean 7th Airborne Brigade (pages 8, 14, etc.) ▲ North Korean corpse trafficking (pages 16-17) ▲ North Korean media control (pages 17-18) ▲ The claim that May 18 was Kim Il-sung's ambitious plan to occupy all of South Korea (pages 25-26), and other content disparagingly claiming the involvement of North Korean troops in the May 18 Movement.
The foundation plans to actively respond by accepting reports from citizens who discover this book (via the foundation's website - Participation Section - May 18 Distortion Reports).
Won Sunseok, chairperson of the foundation, stated, "Even while serving his sentence, Ji Manwon continued to spread messages, distorting the facts about May 18 and mocking the victims, their families, and the citizens who commemorate them," and added, "To prevent fake news and distortions about May 18 and its contributors, it is necessary to revise the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement and to include the May 18 spirit in the preamble of the Constitution."
Choi Kiyoung, secretary general of the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of Minbyun (Lawyers for a Democratic Society), pointed out, "Forces distorting May 18, including 'Sky Daily,' are essentially adopting Ji Manwon's claim of North Korean involvement in the May 18 Movement, and Ji Manwon's arguments and evidence are becoming more sophisticated."
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