[Report] Political Circles Visit Gwangju... "History That Is Not Remembered Repeats Itself"

[Gwangju=Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] "Was the shooting aimed at the building, or were the bullets actually aimed at the citizens?" At the guide's words, the Democratic Party leadership looked solemnly at the numerous dents on the walls and floor. These are 245 bullet marks proving the helicopter gunfire by the new military regime.

To commemorate the May 18 Democratic Uprising, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties visited Gwangju. The Democratic Party first visited the Jeonil Building on Geumnam-ro, the sacred site of the democratization movement. The Jeonil Building, which was the tallest building in downtown Gwangju in 1980, still stands tall, preserving the history of that day. This building, which protected citizens who hid from the martial law troops, now bears 245 bullet marks like scars, proving the site of the helicopter gunfire. The 10th floor walls and floor of the Jeonil Building, preserved in their original state, show a series of deep dents. The window frames, recreated to reflect the situation at the time, have holes and cracks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On this day, the Democratic Party held a Supreme Council meeting on the 4th floor of the Jeonil Building and decided to actively support the investigation into the truth. Party leader Lee Hae-chan stated, "Forty years ago, at the new military regime's trial, Supreme Council member Seol Hoon and I said we would rather stand with the spirits of Gwangju than beg pitifully for imprisonment. Although the late President Kim Dae-jung has passed away, I am still alive and will continue to do what must be done."

There are signs of a breeze of change in the political sphere. Despite the visit of the floor leader of a conservative party to this 40th anniversary ceremony, no clashes occurred. This is quite different from last year when a confrontation broke out between protesters during the visit of former Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the United Party, who apologized for some conservative lawmakers' disparaging remarks, emphasized on this day, "The nature and authority of the democratization movement have already been legally settled," adding, "We must heal all conflicts and wounds and move forward as a united Republic of Korea under the spirit of May 18." He also led the singing of the "March for the Beloved" together with leaders Lee Hae-chan and Sim Sang-jung. Democratic Party lawmakers carried wreaths and walked from the National May 18 Cemetery to the Democratic Uprising Memorial Tower, singing the same song.

Special laws to investigate the atrocities committed by state power on that day and laws to punish historical distortion remain stalled in the National Assembly without passage. Not only the bullet marks in the Jeonil Building but also the consistent testimonies of witnesses to the helicopter gunfire and the military internal documents recording helicopter dispatch support the fact that helicopter gunfire occurred under the command of the new military regime in Gwangju. However, the investigation into the initial order to fire remains elusive. The person responsible, Jeon Du-hwan, still completely denies, saying, "I never ordered helicopter gunfire." "Please be truthful. We ask you," citizens attending the ceremony pleaded to the lawmakers they met.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.