Jung Jinwook, a member of the National Assembly representing Gwangju Dongnam-gap, announced on the 20th that he strongly condemned the lawsuit filed by Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, against a Gwangju citizen who protested during a visit to the May 18 National Cemetery, as well as the party's call for a "thorough investigation."
Jung Jinwook stated, "For the leader of the People Power Party, a party complicit in the 12·3 Rebellion, to respond to a legitimate protest by a Gwangju citizen with a lawsuit and an investigation is the height of hypocrisy and tantamount to insulting the 'Spirit of Gwangju.' The People Power Party, which has labeled the legitimate concerns of Gwangju citizens as an illegal protest, must immediately withdraw the lawsuit."
He continued, "Before visiting the May 18 National Cemetery, Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, should have clearly stated his position regarding the 12·3 Martial Law Incident. Standing before the spirits of May 18 without addressing historical responsibility is disrespectful to the people of Gwangju and can only be seen as an attempt to evade accountability."
Furthermore, he said, "As a judge, Jang Donghyuk personally presided over the 2019 defamation case involving the late Father Cho Bi-o and Chun Doo-hwan, so he should be more aware than anyone of the historical significance. Nevertheless, by filing a complaint against a legitimate citizen, the People Power Party is revealing its lack of resolve to break away from the legacy of the past rebellion forces."
He added, "The act of citizens expressing their political opinions is a fundamental right guaranteed in a democratic society, and treating it as a criminal offense is an excessive response. The People Power Party's portrayal of citizens as a 'radical group' undermines the spirit of May 18 and is an irresponsible political act intended to divide the local community."
Jung Jinwook pointed out, "In reality, the People Power Party has failed to take responsible actions, such as including the spirit of May 18 in the preamble of the Constitution or addressing the issues of distortion and disparagement by far-right groups. Forcing a visit to the cemetery without reflecting on past actions that belittled the spirit of May 18 can only be seen as a political move that disregards the people of Gwangju."
He emphasized, "The police should not hastily label the legitimate concerns of citizens as criminal acts. They must approach the matter with utmost political neutrality and fairness. There must never be a situation where Gwangju citizens feel they are being subjected to an excessive investigation."
In conclusion, Jung Jinwook said, "Attempts to unjustly accuse Gwangju citizens will only undermine trust and order in the local community. If Jang Donghyuk truly respects the spirit of May 18, he should first withdraw his demands for oppressive investigations against citizens and reflect on how his words and actions impact the local community."
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