Democratic Party to Push Party Bill on 5.18 Truth Investigation and Punishment for Distortion

Lee Hae-chan, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 3rd and delivering opening remarks. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo

[Asia Economy reporters Park Cheol-eung and Jeon Jin-young] The Democratic Party of Korea is pushing for the revision of the Special Act on the Truth Commission for the May 18 Democratic Uprising and the punishment of historical distortion as party-backed legislation.

Song Gap-seok, spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said to reporters after the Supreme Council meeting on the 3rd, "We have decided to start the procedure for making (the May 18-related bills) party-backed," adding, "The policy committee will review them, and opinions will be gathered at the party caucus meeting to adopt them as party-backed bills."

Spokesperson Song further explained, "Representative Lee Hae-chan mentioned that the related bills should be prioritized for processing, and regarding the May 18 distortion punishment bill, it was already adopted as a Democratic Party-backed bill and submitted during the 20th National Assembly but failed to pass the National Assembly, so we are trying again." However, he added that the 'Working National Assembly Act' will be the Democratic Party's first bill in order.

Earlier, elected lawmakers from Gwangju and Jeonnam regions, including spokesperson Song, announced last month that they would jointly push for the revision of May 18-related laws immediately after the opening of the 21st National Assembly.

The so-called ‘Eight Laws to Set the May 18 History Straight’ include expanding the role and authority of the Truth Commission, strengthening punishment for historical distortion of May 18, banning burial in national cemeteries for those who destroy the constitutional order, restoring honor and providing substantial compensation to democracy movement veterans, among others. Among these, the two most crucial bills will be prioritized as party-backed legislation.

President Moon Jae-in said at the May 18 commemoration ceremony last month, "We will spare no support so that the May 18 Truth Commission, which has officially started its activities, can reveal all the remaining truths," emphasizing, "Distortion and disparagement will no longer have a place. The truth about the order to open fire, the massacre of civilians by martial law troops, helicopter shootings, and suspicions of concealment and fabrication of state violence must be uncovered without fail."

President Moon also mentioned, "Incorporating the May 18 Democratic Uprising into the preamble of the Constitution is to establish May 18 as a great history of the Republic of Korea that no one can damage or deny."

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