Man Prosecuted Four Times for May 18 Distortion Continues to Spread Falsehoods Online

The Hankyoreh reports on a deeply troubling case where an individual continues to spread disinformation about the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, despite multiple prosecutions. This man, identified only as 'A', has been charged four times under the May 18 Special Act for posting false and distorted content on his blog. His recent posts, which include sharing North Korean media and commentary, falsely claim the uprising was a North Korean-orchestrated 'people's' democratic movement and a ' 대남혁명군사작전' (anti-South Korea revolutionary military operation).

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How could they know (the broadcast) would be prepared?

This persistent denial and distortion of historical facts is particularly galling in South Korea, where the Gwangju Uprising is recognized as a pivotal moment in the nation's democratization. The courts have repeatedly affirmed the truth: the uprising was a protest by Gwangju citizens against military dictatorship, resulting in significant casualties due to excessive force. The Supreme Court has even upheld rulings against individuals spreading similar falsehoods, confirming that claims of North Korean involvement are baseless and defamatory.

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Democratic movement? A 'people's' democratic movement that sacrificed the people of Gwangju. It was merely one of the numerous anti-South Korea revolutionary military operations planned and led by the North, consistently framed as something else.

From our perspective at The Hankyoreh, such continued dissemination of misinformation is not just a legal issue but a societal one. It disrespects the victims and survivors of the Gwangju Uprising and undermines the historical understanding of a crucial event in our modern history. While Western media might report on the legal proceedings, they often miss the deep emotional and political resonance this event holds within South Korea. For us, ensuring the historical accuracy of the Gwangju Uprising is a matter of national memory and democratic integrity, a fight against those who seek to rewrite our past for their own divisive agendas.

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The reality of the incident, with Gwangju citizens as sacrifices, is being starkly revealed and spread, yet the group still talking about including May 18 in the constitution are communists.