President Moon urges fact-finding in 1980 Gwangju military crackdown
- 4 years ago
문대통령 "5•18 발포명령자 진상 규명돼야"
South Korea is coming up on the 40th anniversary of the pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, on May 18th, 1980... that was brutally suppressed by the military regime in power at the time.
A day ahead of that, President Moon Jae-in has reiterated his call for the truth to be uncovered regarding who ordered the use of military force, including helicopter assaults, against the demonstrators.
He was speaking with a local broadcaster in an interview that aired Sunday.
Moon said there are still victims who need to be identified, and there needs to be an inquiry into how the helicopter shooting was carried out... and into schemes to conceal and distort the truth.
It's not just for legal punishment against those who are responsible but a truth-based path toward genuine reconciliation and unity. I have high expectations of the activities of the fact-finding committee, and the government will provide active support.
On May 18, 1980,... the Chun Doo-hwan military junta declared martial law to crack down on pro-democracy protesters.
Over the course of 10 days, hundreds of civilians in the southwestern city of Gwangju were killed by government troops.
Official data puts the death toll at roughly 200, but it could be higher.
Moon also said that if South Korea revises its constitution, as has been discussed, then it needs to reflect the historical value of the May 18th democracy movement to promote national unity.
The president also expressed his deepest regret to the people of Gwangju... for the violence it was subjected to by the state.
South Korea is coming up on the 40th anniversary of the pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, on May 18th, 1980... that was brutally suppressed by the military regime in power at the time.
A day ahead of that, President Moon Jae-in has reiterated his call for the truth to be uncovered regarding who ordered the use of military force, including helicopter assaults, against the demonstrators.
He was speaking with a local broadcaster in an interview that aired Sunday.
Moon said there are still victims who need to be identified, and there needs to be an inquiry into how the helicopter shooting was carried out... and into schemes to conceal and distort the truth.
It's not just for legal punishment against those who are responsible but a truth-based path toward genuine reconciliation and unity. I have high expectations of the activities of the fact-finding committee, and the government will provide active support.
On May 18, 1980,... the Chun Doo-hwan military junta declared martial law to crack down on pro-democracy protesters.
Over the course of 10 days, hundreds of civilians in the southwestern city of Gwangju were killed by government troops.
Official data puts the death toll at roughly 200, but it could be higher.
Moon also said that if South Korea revises its constitution, as has been discussed, then it needs to reflect the historical value of the May 18th democracy movement to promote national unity.
The president also expressed his deepest regret to the people of Gwangju... for the violence it was subjected to by the state.