May 3 Organizations Welcome the Proposal of the "Act on the Honor and Treatment of 5·18 Merit Recipients" Amendment

Assemblyman Lee Yong-bin is leading and submitting the "Partial Amendment to the Act on the Treatment of May 18 Democratic Merit Recipients."

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The three organizations related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement (the May 18 Democratic Merit Holders’ Families Association, the May 18 Democratization Movement Injured Association, and the May 18 Detained and Injured Association) expressed their welcome for the partial amendment bill of the “Act on the Treatment of May 18 Democratic Merit Holders,” which was primarily proposed by Representative Lee Yong-bin.

In a press release on the day, the three organizations stated, “Although the May 18 Democratization Movement was designated as a national memorial day in 1997, and the Act on the Treatment of May 18 Democratic Merit Holders was enacted and enforced in 2002, our organizations have not sufficiently received the status and treatment of a public legal entity as private organizations,” adding, “While it was possible to achieve this through amendments to the Act on the Treatment of May 18 Democratic Merit Holders, some political factions’ self-interest and malicious distortion and denigration forces regarding May 18 have obstructed progress.”

They continued, “The United Future Party, which had been passive about amending this law, should actively work to revise the law from a progressive standpoint, as confirmed by Floor Leader Joo Ho-young, who attended the 40th anniversary event of the May 18 Democratization Movement.”

They further asserted, “Except for a very small conservative faction, all of our society recognizes how fundamentally the May 18 Democratization Movement contributed to the realization of democracy, freedom, human rights, and peace in the Republic of Korea,” and “The May 18 Democratic Merit Holders did not only sacrifice themselves during May 18 but have fought their entire lives to confirm the truth and realize democratization of this country through inheriting its spirit.”

Along with this, they added, “We hope that the proposed amendment bill will be promptly approved by the National Assembly, and we will also form a Public Legal Entity Promotion Team to fulfill the necessary roles,” and “We pledge to make more active efforts together for the development of democracy and social integration in this country.”

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