Suspension of the Jeong Yulseong Historical Park Project
and Creation of a Resting Place for the Mothers of May
The Republic of Korea Special Forces Veterans Association paid a visit to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, on the afternoon of the 1st. Photo by the source.
The Republic of Korea Special Forces Veterans Association and the Marine Corps Uiyeoldan on the 1st called for legal reforms and the implementation of a special investigation into insurrection to prevent unjust situations for military officers like Colonel Park Junghoon of the Marine Corps.
On this day, members of the Special Forces Veterans Association and the Marine Corps Uiyeoldan visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, to pay tribute to the spirits of May.
More than 30 people participated in the visit, including Jeon Sangbu, Executive Advisor of the Special Forces Veterans Association; Lim Seongrok, Advisor of the Special Forces Veterans Association; Choi Unyong, Advisor of the May 18 Democratization Movement Wounded Association; Kim Seongdae, former President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Veterans Association; Oh Geonung, President of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch of the North Korean Provinces Residents Association; Cho Gangrae, Marine Corps Reserve Major General; Park Jeongsu, Navy Reserve Rear Admiral; and Kim Taeseong, Chairman of the Supporters' Association for Marine Corps Colonel Park Junghoon.
After paying their respects in front of the memorial tower, the Special Forces and Marine Corps veterans visited the graves of the late Park Kwanhyun and Yoon Sangwon, as well as the section for the missing, and held a moment of silence.
On this day, they called for: ▲the suspension of the Jeong Yulseong Historical Park project; ▲the creation of a space where mothers who lost their children in May 1980 can rest in peace; ▲a special investigation into Marine Chae Sugun and the insurrection; ▲the expansion of veterans' policies; and ▲an end to the political exploitation of military personnel.
Advisor Lim Seongrok stated, "The democratization movement in Gwangju in May 1980 was a civic resistance movement against the state's illegal and unjust exercise of public authority, and it is a proud democratization movement. The construction of a historical park for communist Jeong Yulseong, which gives an excuse to those who disparage Gwangju and distort the May 18 Democratization Movement, must be stopped immediately."
He added, "The mothers who lost their children during the May 1980 uprising are the true fighters for democratization. A space must be created so that they can rest eternally with their children after death. In addition, the law must be revised to prevent unjust situations for military officers like Colonel Park Junghoon, and those who ignored the Constitution and participated in the December 3 insurrection must be thoroughly investigated and punished."
He continued, "Veterans' policies have been focused only on long-term service veterans of more than 20 years, senior officers, and generals. Pension and veterans' benefits must be extended to general service members who volunteered for the special forces (Special Forces, Marine Corps), Special Forces members who served for 48 months, and those who served in the military for more than 5 years. Furthermore, the political exploitation of the armed forces, who carry out the sacred duty of defending the Republic of Korea and protecting the lives and property of the people, must end."
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