Assemblyman Song Gap-seok: "Hwang Kyo-ahn, Liberty Korea Party Leader, Apologize to the May Spirits"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] Assemblyman Song Gap-seok (The Democratic Party of Korea, Gwangju Seo-gu Gap) stated, "Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, should kneel and apologize to the May spirits and the people."

At a press conference held on the 13th, Assemblyman Song said, "I stand here today with a heavy heart. The Liberty Korea Party and its leader Hwang Kyo-ahn's denigration and distortion, which attempt to twist the noble history of May 1980, have once again brutally wounded the May spirits and the heart of Gwangju."

He continued, "Leader Hwang dismissed the May 18 Democratic Movement as a 'whatever incident' that happened in 1980, 'a memory of schools being closed and things like that,'" adding, "He also introduced his history as a member of the Student Defense Corps, a remnant of the Yushin dictatorship, as if it were a heroic tale."

He further stated, "Despite fierce public criticism, he did not back down; instead, he responded with shameless explanations and threatened strong legal action against the spread of false information and defamation," and argued, "This shows how cruel a leader lacking historical awareness can be to the people."

He also said, "I do not understand what kind of sophistry it is to claim that the nationwide expanded emergency martial law and school closure order by the new military regime on May 17, 1980, had nothing to do with the May 18 Democratic Movement," emphasizing, "Last May, Hwang said, 'I will visit Gwangju and meet its citizens until the wounds of Gwangju are healed and the hearts of its citizens are opened,' and 'I understand the pain and pride of Gwangju citizens,' but these words were ultimately hypocritical, clearly revealing his far-right nature that denies May 18."

He said, "The term 'Gwangju Incident' is an intentional expression by the Chun Doo-hwan new military regime forces to distort and conceal the May 18 Democratic Movement," and stressed, "The shallow historical consciousness of the leader of the main opposition party, a former public security prosecutor stuck in the Yushin and Fifth Republic eras, is truly despairing."

He added, "Leader Hwang should immediately retract his absurd sophistry and groundless claims," and "We strongly urge the Liberty Korea Party and its leader Hwang Kyo-ahn to offer a profound apology for damaging the honor of the May spirits who silently perished under indiscriminate slaughter and violence."

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