Legislation Committee Passes 5·18 Distortion Punishment Law... Maximum Penalty Reduced from 7 to 5 Years

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, is blocking Yoon Ho-jung, chairman of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, from passing the amendment to the Corruption Investigation Office Act during the full committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 8th. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] The law penalizing distortion of the May 18 Incident passed the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 8th, despite the absence of lawmakers from the People Power Party.

On the same day, the Legislation and Judiciary Committee approved the amendment to the Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Movement at its plenary session. The amendment primarily stipulates that anyone who spreads false information defaming the May 18 Democratic Movement shall be punished by imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won.

Baek Hye-ryun, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated, "The punishment clause in the amendment originally stipulated imprisonment for up to 7 years, but since there were opinions that lowering the sentencing is appropriate, I propose a revision to impose imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won."

Earlier, the Democratic Party had unilaterally approved the amendment at the Legislation and Judiciary Committee's First Subcommittee on Bill Examination the previous day and forwarded it to the plenary session.

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