Democratic Party Retired Generals Pay Tribute at May 18 Cemetery... "The Spirit of May Prevented Martial Law"

Hwang Inkwon, chairman of the Democratic Party of Korea's Special Committee on Defense and Security, is paying respects in front of the tombstone of martyr Yoon Sangwon at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju on the 6th. Photo by Yonhap News

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea's Special Committee on National Defense and Security visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery and pledged to reform the military system, stating, "We apologize to the citizens of Gwangju and the democratic spirits who were sacrificed by the gunfire of the martial law troops 45 years ago."

About 30 members of the Democratic Party of Korea's Special Committee on National Defense and Security paid their respects at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, on the 6th.

They visited the graves of Yoon Sangwon, who became known as the spokesperson for the citizens' militia during May 18, and Moon Jaehak, as well as the section for the missing persons.

The lawmakers knelt and gently touched the tombstones, with some even covering them with their coats.

After the tribute, in a press conference, they said, "The fact that the December 3 Martial Law Incident ended without a single drop of bloodshed is largely due to the citizens who risked their lives," and added, "It was because there were soldiers on the ground with the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement that unlawful orders were not actively followed."

They continued, "As members of the Republic of Korea's reserve generals, we apologize to the bereaved families and citizens of Gwangju who were sacrificed by the gunfire of the martial law troops 45 years ago," and emphasized, "We will reform the military system so that a military coup will never again be possible in the history of the Republic of Korea, and so that the military will never again become a tool for unlawful rebellion."