Gwangju Civic Groups: "5.18 Foundation Executive's Election Campaign Violates Political Neutrality"

May Spirit Protection Pan-Provincial Countermeasures Committee Issues "Statement"

Civic groups in Gwangju have condemned the participation of a 5·18 Memorial Foundation executive in presidential election campaigning, stating that it constitutes a violation of political neutrality.

The May Spirit Protection Pan-Provincial Countermeasures Committee issued a statement on the 30th, declaring, "Former Memorial Foundation director Won Sunseok violated the obligation of political neutrality by serving as the co-chair of the election campaign committee for the Gwangju branch of the Democratic Party during the last presidential election."

The committee further criticized, "As a result, the foundation's public interest and legal status have been severely undermined," and added, "This has led to a situation where even its qualification as a public interest corporation, which is exempt from corporate tax, is now at risk."

Additionally, the committee stated, "This is not simply an individual's deviation, but a symbolic incident that reveals the privatization and undemocratic management structure of the entire foundation's operations," and added, "The Memorial Foundation must engage in self-reflection and reclaim its original mission."