5.18 Groups and Civil Society: "Cancellation of Yoon's Detention Is Judicial Injustice"

On the afternoon of the 15th of last month, citizens shouted slogans at the "14th Gwangju Citizens' General Rally" held by Gwangju Emergency Action in the Geumnam-ro area in front of Jeonil Building 245, Dong-gu, Gwangju, urging the impeachment of President Yoon Seokyeol and the eradication of internal rebellion forces. Photo by Song Bohyun

The May 18 organizations and Gwangju civic society strongly protested on the 7th against the court's decision to revoke President Yoon Sukyeol's detention, calling it "an act that denies judicial justice and undermines democracy." They urged the court to disclose and clarify the clear grounds for the cancellation of the detention.

The three May 18 organizations (the Bereaved Families Association, the Injured Association, and the Meritorious Persons Association) and the May 18 Memorial Foundation issued a joint statement on this day, stating, "The decision to cancel the detention of the main perpetrator of the rebellion is a direct challenge to justice," and pointed out, "It is an act that denies judicial justice and seriously damages democracy."

The organizations criticized, "It is incomprehensible that the person who planned and led the rebellion is released by a judicial decision instead of facing legal judgment," adding, "This proves that the judiciary has degenerated into a subordinate of the regime." They continued, "If release is granted without punishment, it sets a precedent that encourages rebellion," and urged the court to disclose and explain the clear grounds for the decision to cancel the detention.

On the same day, the Gwangju Emergency Action for Immediate Resignation of the Yoon Sukyeol Regime and Social Reform also issued an emergency statement condemning President Yoon's release. The Emergency Action criticized, "The release of Yoon Sukyeol, the main culprit of the rebellion, is the judiciary succumbing to the threats of far-right forces sympathetic to the rebellion, and an act of abandoning judicial justice."

The Emergency Action further urged, "The release of Yoon Sukyeol itself drives the Republic of Korea into a disaster greater than the rebellion," and called on the prosecution to immediately appeal and completely block Yoon Sukyeol's release."