Claim That "May 18 Was a Rebellion Led by the DJ Faction and North Korea"
The May 18 Memorial Foundation announced on the 31st that it has filed a complaint against Mr. A, the CEO of the online media outlet Sky Daily, on charges of spreading false information about the May 18 Democratic Uprising.
In the complaint submitted to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency that morning, the Foundation and the city of Gwangju stated, "On the 5th of last month, Mr. A claimed during a lecture attended by over 200 members of the People Power Party's Eunpyeong-gap branch in Seoul that 'May 18 was a rebellion led by the DJ (Kim Daejung) faction and North Korea.'
They continued, "Mr. A's remarks disparaged May 18 and succinctly expressed false content, distorting the truth," adding, "The media outlet he represents continues to spread such claims in detail, disseminating false information."
They further stated, "The infiltration of North Korean troops was proven to be untrue through an investigation by the May 18 Truth Investigation Committee on June of last year," and added, "Regarding the investigation results, the May 18 Committee announced that 'claims of North Korean military involvement in the May 18 Democratic Uprising lack substantial evidence, and other claims are also found to be unreasonable and lacking validity.'"
Choi Kiyoung, Secretary General of the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, said, "The accused's claims deny the May 18 Democratic Uprising as defined by the judiciary and the law," and added, "He distorted and disparaged May 18 by claiming it was a riot that occurred because Gwangju citizens were deceived by North Korea's dispatch of special forces in an attempt to communize South Korea."
Won Sunseok, Director of the Foundation, stated, "Distortion and disparagement of the May 18 Democratic Uprising cause social conflict and costs, and inflict secondary harm on the victims and their families," adding, "Despite the fact that some agitators are freely spreading false claims, the laws and systems of the Republic of Korea are failing to prevent this. Fundamental measures, such as including the spirit of May 18 in the preamble of the Constitution, are urgently needed."
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