Gwangju Civic Groups Condemn Committee for Neglecting False May 18 Missing Persons Cases

Lee Juho, Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister as well as Minister of Education, is paying respects at the '45th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement Commemoration Ceremony' held on May 18 at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group

Civil society organizations in Gwangju have condemned the May 18 Democratic Movement Truth Investigation Committee (the Committee) and the Gwangju City Government for failing to take follow-up action after confirming facts related to false May 18 missing persons cases.

The Pan-Provincial Citizens’ Committee for Upholding the May Spirit (the Committee) issued a statement on the 3rd, saying, "Through a plenary session in December 2023, the Committee confirmed that three missing persons were unrelated to the May 18 Democratic Movement. However, for over a year, they did not notify the Gwangju City Government and took no follow-up action," adding, "This reveals a comprehensive failure and an act of concealing the truth."

The statement continued, "The Gwangju City Government also cannot avoid responsibility, as it failed to respond despite being aware of the facts, citing only the lack of official notification. Both institutions have gone beyond mere incompetence and have committed acts that provide justification for forces seeking to distort and undermine the history of May 18."

The committee further demanded, "The responsible officials at the Committee must issue a formal apology, and the Gwangju City Government must immediately launch a fact-finding investigation and implement follow-up measures," stressing, "We will not stand by and allow any attempts to undermine the spirit of May 18."

Meanwhile, the Committee identified the whereabouts of three missing persons related to May 18, and revealed in its comprehensive report that one of them is alive. However, the Committee failed to share this information in a timely manner with the Gwangju City Government, which is responsible for May 18 compensation reviews, leading to criticism for neglect of duty.