Ji Manwon, who was prosecuted for defamation for claiming that the Gwangju citizens who participated in the May 18 Democratic Movement were North Korean special forces, appeared at the first trial sentencing hearing held on the 13th at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-dong and was body searched before entering the courtroom. Photo by Yonhap News
Following the publication of Ji Manwon's book containing distortions about the May 18 Democratic Movement, both the prosecution's summary indictment and the court's injunction banning its publication and distribution were issued in succession.
According to the May 18 Memorial Foundation on August 20, Ji Manwon was indicted for violating the Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Movement by spreading false information in his book "42 Decisive Pieces of Evidence That North Korea Carried Out the May 18 Operation," which distorted the events of May 18.
The foundation filed a complaint against Ji last February, and the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office issued a summary indictment with a fine of 10 million won on July 31.
A decision on the objection to the injunction banning the publication and distribution of the same book was also made on August 12. The 11th Civil Division of the Anyang Branch of the Suwon District Court ruled on January 21 that the book must not be published, issued, printed, reproduced, sold, distributed, or advertised unless certain portions are deleted.
The court also ordered indirect compulsory enforcement to ensure the effectiveness of the injunction, imposing a penalty of 500,000 won per violation (per day).
However, Ji objected to this decision and filed a formal objection with the court on January 24, but on August 12 the court ruled that the original injunction was valid. As a result, the publication and distribution of the book will continue to be prohibited.
Yoon Mokhyeon, Chairman of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, stated, "Distorting the history of the May 18 Democratic Movement is not only a secondary harm to victims and bereaved families of state violence, but also an act that undermines the foundation of democracy in the Republic of Korea. As it is an attempt to deny the identity of the nation, it should be punished more severely than under ordinary laws."
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