Former Dong-A, Chosun journalists seek retrial 51 years after dismissal for opposing Yushin regime

For over half a century, we, the journalists of Dong-A Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo, have carried the weight of unjust dismissals. In 1975, we stood against the oppressive Yushin dictatorship, demanding the freedom of the press and the right to work. Our protest, a mere 30 minutes long, was met with the brutal force of dismissal and indefinite suspension. Yet, the courts, in their wisdom, deemed our actions detrimental to the company's management, ignoring the fundamental rights we fought for.

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We submitted the constitutional appeal on the 11th to correct the violation of fundamental rights, including the freedom of the press and the right to work.

We took our case to the courts, seeking a declaration of nullity for our dismissals. But the legal system, then as now, seemed to favor the powerful. Three trials, three defeats. The Supreme Court, in its final judgment, upheld the validity of employment rules unilaterally changed by the company without the consent of the majority of employees. This ruling, based on extraneous factors like 'company management difficulties,' was a betrayal of justice and a blow to the principles of fair labor practices.

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We expected that we would never have a chance to correct this, but fortunately, the constitutional appeal system was created, allowing us to bring the case into the light and show it to the public.

Now, 51 years later, a glimmer of hope emerges. The constitutional appeal system, enacted last month, offers us a chance to right the wrongs of the past. We, along with the families of those who have passed, have submitted our appeal to the Constitutional Court. We believe that as society has evolved, so too should the interpretation of justice. We are hopeful that this new legal avenue will bring about a change in the verdict and finally vindicate our struggle for press freedom and the right to work.

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How could such a ruling be made? It was absurd. The journalists were dismissed simply for opposing the publication of pro-Yushin regime columns and participating in a 30-minute sit-in, yet the court acknowledged the legitimacy of the dismissals based on non-legal judgments like company management difficulties.