Gwangju Community: "One Year After Martial Law, Punishment of Treason Forces Remains Just Words"

Gwangju Community Aspires to End Treason and Achieve Sweeping Social Reform
No Convictions for Treason Yet... Entrenched Cartel System Remains

On the 3rd, at the 5.18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, the "Gwangju Community Wishing for the End of Treason and Foreign Interference and Great Social Reform on the 1st Anniversary of the Revolution of Light," composed of Gwangju City and civil society groups, held a press conference urging the punishment of treasonous forces and calling for great social reform. Photo by Min Chanki

Civil society in Gwangju marked the first anniversary of the emergency martial law by urging the government to purge treason forces and carry out sweeping social reforms.

The Gwangju Community, which aspires to end treason and achieve great social reform, held a press conference on the morning of December 3 at the 5.18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju. At the event, the group declared, "The treason is not over. The Lee Jaemyung administration must push forward with relentless reforms to end treason and rebellion and to build a new Republic of Korea."

More than 250 people attended the press conference, including Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijung, city council members, representatives from the Gwangju Citizens’ Organization Council, groups commemorating the 5.18 Democratization Movement, and members of the religious community.

The event proceeded with an opening declaration, a report on the Gwangju Community's national and regional activities, a series of relay speeches, the reading of a press statement, and a demonstration in which participants wrote their wishes on banners.

The Gwangju Community pointed out, "A year after the emergency martial law, no one has yet been convicted of treason. The court that overturned the detention of former President Yoon Sukyeol using an illegal calculation method that ignored existing precedents is now retrying the treason case." The group also criticized, "Some special prosecutors dispatched to the case are engaging in deliberate sabotage and lenient investigations."

They continued, "The entrenched vested-interest cartel and the undemocratic system that led to the treason have not changed. Despite these circumstances, the government born from the Revolution of Light is already intoxicated with power and wavering in its resolve."

The group further criticized, "Contrary to the promise to make constitutional amendment the top priority for sovereign citizens, the Democratic Party has not even established a preparatory body for constitutional reform. It is openly said that there will be no constitutional amendment before the local elections. The National Citizens’ Committee and the Social Reform Committee, which were promised to the public, are also being reduced to powerless shells."

On the 3rd, attendees performed a demonstration at the Gwangju Community press conference held at the 5.18 Democracy Square in Dong-gu, Gwangju, wishing for the first anniversary of the Revolution of Light, the end of internal and external conflicts, and major social reforms. Photo by Min Chanki

They also pointed out, "Policies that deepen regional inequality are being pushed through without residents’ consent, while tax cuts for the wealthy that exacerbate wealth inequality are being strengthened. Even the demands of the bereaved families of the Jeju Air disaster to postpone the public hearing were only accepted after they resorted to shaving their heads in protest."

The group asked, "How is this behavior any different from that of the Yoon Sukyeol administration? The Revolution of Light can only be completed through constitutional amendment and sweeping social reform. The Lee Jaemyung administration must exercise its authority to root out and punish treason forces before it is too late, reinforce constitutional order to prevent a recurrence of treason, abolish policies that concentrate power in the capital region, and immediately begin discussions on constitutional reform."

Father Cho Youngdae, who participated in the press conference, also remarked, "It is frustrating that the results have not met our expectations. For a year, the people have endured this frustration, and I wonder whether the current administration is truly making an effort. I hope the Lee Jaemyung administration will eradicate those guilty of treason and achieve sweeping social reform."