Gwangju-Jeonnam Journalists Association Criticizes Government's Tepid Response
Requests Inclusion of May Uprising Historical Site in Next Year's Opening
Calls for Severe and Swift Punishment of Those Responsible for the Rebellion
The Gwangju-Jeonnam Journalists Association announced on June 10 that it had submitted a proposal to President Lee Jaemyung on June 9, requesting that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism include the "Press Censorship Office of the Martial Law Forces" in the restoration project of the "Old Jeonnam Provincial Office May Uprising Historical Site," which is scheduled to open in May next year. In addition, the association called for the establishment of a "Fact-Finding Committee on Media Suppression" at the National Assembly and government level to investigate the press censorship and distorted reporting of 1980, which have yet to be fully uncovered. The association also requested that both the historical site and the Press Censorship Office be created using the latest exhibition techniques.
The association stated, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism began the restoration project to turn the Old Jeonnam Provincial Office into a center for democracy education without even knowing that there was a Press Censorship Office there. After the media pointed this out, the ministry acknowledged the fact, but then delayed action, citing reasons such as 'the space for the Press Censorship Office no longer exists, making it impossible,' and 'oral histories and data research are needed.' Most recently, the ministry excluded the office from the project scheduled to open in May next year, saying, 'We will proceed if the budget is allocated.'
The association further explained, "Although the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement was triggered by the illegal and violent suppression and mass shootings by the martial law forces, the Press Censorship Office censored all media outlets, deleted factual reports, and forced distorted reporting that claimed 'nothing happened,' which fueled public outrage and escalated the situation."
The association pointed out, "The 'dark history' of media suppression should be preserved as a historical trace and a lesson, just as much as the hard-won democracy achieved through blood and sweat, and therefore must be restored together."
The association also emphasized that, since the government of popular sovereignty was born as a "victory of civic spirit" with citizens taking the lead to quickly stop the 12·3 Martial Law Incident, learning from the lessons of May 18 forty-five years ago, there is a need for an educational center that exhibits materials related to May 18, 12·3, and press censorship.
The association welcomed, together with the public, the rapid stabilization of the Republic of Korea following the launch of President Lee Jaemyung's government of popular sovereignty, and urged the swift punishment of those involved in the rebellion who disrupted society by deceiving the public with illegal martial law and flawed legal theories.
Meanwhile, the Gwangju-Jeonnam Journalists Association was founded in 1974. More than 100 veteran journalists from local newspapers, broadcasters, and news agencies, who are former members of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Reporters Association, are currently active as members. Since the May 18 Democratization Movement in 1980, the association has consistently communicated with the government, Gwangju City, and various organizations, and has held public forums and conducted external publicity regarding the necessity and implementation of restoring the Press Censorship Office in the Old Jeonnam Provincial Office, which was the center of media control at the time.
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