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5·18 Investigation Committee to Solemnly Exhume 3 Graves of 5·18 Unknown Martyrs on the 19th

Introduction of Crime Investigation Techniques STR·SNP... Expectation to Confirm Identity of 5-Year-Old Park Gwang-jin at the Time

On the 19th, the grave of an unknown martyr resting at the 5·18 Democratic Cemetery is being opened to collect genetic samples for identification.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the morning of the 19th, the 5·18 Truth Investigation Committee began collecting DNA samples to identify the unknown martyrs of the May 18 Democratic Uprising at the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.

The atmosphere here was more solemn than usual. Despite the rain that had been falling since the previous day growing heavier, no one paid it any mind and focused on preparations.

Due to the forecast of heavy rain, the 5·18 Investigation Committee had set up tents over three unknown martyrs' graves scheduled for exhumation from the day before and made thorough preparations.

At 10 a.m., a joint soil-opening ritual began, marking the start of the grave exhumation.

During the ritual, a moment of silence was observed for the 5·18 spirits, followed by the reading of a memorial document, a eulogy by Vice Chairman An Jongcheol of the Investigation Committee, a speech by the head of the 5·18 Bereaved Families Association, and incense offering.

After another moment of silence, the full-scale exhumation commenced.

About 30 minutes later, the stone coffin lid covering the unknown martyr was fully revealed. Coincidentally, the rain intensified and the wind began to blow strongly.

At various spots, sighs of “Even the heavens mourn” were heard.

When the tent was blown away by the strong rain and wind, everyone?from reporters to 5·18 Investigation Committee members?put down their equipment and held the tent to set it up again.

The National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, established in 1997, had 11 unknown martyrs' graves relocated there in 2002, and DNA testing conducted until 2006 confirmed the identities of six. Currently, five remain unidentified and have yet to return to their families.

The DNA of these five individuals is stored at the Department of Forensic Medicine at Chonnam National University, but due to previous DNA tests, samples have become insufficient, leading to additional sample collection from three graves on this day.

On the 19th, the grave of an unknown martyr resting at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery is being opened to collect genetic samples for identification.

Among these, DNA samples were also collected from the remains of a child estimated to be about 4 years old.

This unknown martyr is presumed to be the late Park Gwangjin (then 5 years old), who went missing on May 20, 1980, while traveling from Gwangju to Seoul with his maternal grandmother and two maternal uncles.

The identities of the maternal grandmother and two maternal uncles have been confirmed, but Park remains unidentified.

If the DNA collected this time matches the DNA stored at the Department of Forensic Medicine at Chonnam National University, Park will return to his family after 40 years.

This DNA comparison will be conducted in more detail than the tests performed from 2002 to 2006. At that time, 16 loci were tested, but this time the test will be expanded to 23 loci.

Additionally, the investigation committee official explained that testing will include paternal lineage, maternal lineage, and parentage verification.

The committee will immediately send the DNA samples collected from the three graves to the Departments of Forensic Medicine at Seoul National University and Chonnam National University for genetic analysis.

The samples will be compared with the DNA of missing persons' families, and if necessary, also analyzed against DNA data held by the police.

The DNA tests will use the widely employed ‘STR’ (Short Tandem Repeat) method in criminal investigations, alongside the ‘SNP’ method, which analyzes more genetic markers than STR.

Notably, the SNP method was used to identify over 60 individuals in the Jeju 4·3 Incident, raising hopes that this DNA test will successfully identify the unknown martyrs.

Vice Chairman An Jongcheol of the Investigation Committee said, “It is our committee’s duty to return those who have waited 40 years to their bereaved families,” adding, “Following this DNA test, we will proceed systematically with future tests.”

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