[Reporter’s Notebook] Comprehensive Investigation into "Fake May 18 Missing Persons" Emerges in Gwangju

Changwon Park / Director, Honam News Bureau

Changwon Park, Director of Honam Reporting Headquarters.

On September 2, Gwangju City Council member Jung Daeun directly criticized the May 18 Fact-Finding Committee, stating that it is effectively failing to fulfill its intended role. Despite the investment of significant budgets and time, the results have been minimal, and even the voices of victims and bereaved families have not been adequately reflected.

It is particularly significant that Assemblywoman Jung publicly called for a comprehensive investigation into "fake May 18 missing persons." This marks the first time an elected official in Gwangju has directly addressed the issue of "fake missing persons." Until now, this issue has been treated as the exclusive domain of the conservative camp and has been a taboo subject within Gwangju itself.

The core of the problem lies in the institutional barriers to raising suspicions and verifying facts. In some cases, the committee confirmed that certain missing persons were actually alive but failed to notify the Gwangju city government, resulting in the inability to recover compensation payments. This has undermined the committee’s own credibility.

If even a single false designation is uncovered, it could be used as grounds to challenge the legitimacy of the entire May 18 movement. The conservative camp could use this as a justification for refusing to recognize May 18 at any time.

In a phone interview with our outlet, Assemblywoman Jung criticized the May 18 Fact-Finding Committee as "the second Gwangju-style job project." She pointed out that the committee, largely composed of people connected through academic or regional ties and retirees, lacks expertise, and that such a composition cannot bring the truth to light. She strongly urged the government and the central political establishment to form a second committee with qualified personnel, warning that the incomplete records of the first committee could remain a scar in history.

Now, it is time for the political establishment to respond. May 18 is not the exclusive property of Gwangju. To enshrine it in the Constitution, the consensus and commemoration of the entire nation are required. Therefore, the issue of "fake missing persons" has become a core task that can no longer be ignored.

If this is not clarified, May 18 will continue to be subject to distortion and attack. The Gwangju city government, as a local authority, essentially has no power in this matter. The solution lies with the central government and the political establishment.

The Democratic Party should not use May 18 merely as a political symbol, and the People Power Party must take responsibility by actively working to uncover the facts instead of merely raising suspicions from behind the scenes. Only when a new committee with expertise and independence is established and all suspicions and rumors are thoroughly addressed can May 18 truly be honored by the entire nation as a symbol of democratic spirit.

A comprehensive investigation into "fake missing persons" and the launch of a second May 18 Fact-Finding Committee are now essential, not optional. We hope that the truth will be revealed regarding all suspicions and that the commemoration of May 18 will be recognized by the entire nation.