Prosecutors Decide Not to Indict Kim Jin-tae and Ji Man-won for 5·18 Controversial Remarks

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmakers Kim Jin-tae, Lee Jong-myung, and Kim Soon-rye, along with conservative commentator Ji Man-won, who was a presenter at a public hearing, have avoided criminal punishment after being accused of making remarks insulting the May 18 Democratic Movement in the National Assembly.

According to the prosecution on the 11th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Jeong Jae-hoon) decided not to indict the four individuals who were accused of defamation and other charges on the 30th of last month.

The prosecution reportedly judged that former lawmaker Kim and others could not be punished because their statements were made in their capacity as members of the National Assembly at the time and thus protected by parliamentary immunity. Regarding Mr. Ji, it was determined that he did not refer to individual members within the May 18 group, so he was not brought to trial.

Former lawmaker Kim Jin-tae and others were accused of insulting the May 18 Democratic Movement and related persons while co-hosting the "May 18 Truth Investigation Public Hearing" at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in February last year. Ji Man-won made statements such as, "To clarify whether North Korean troops were involved in May 18, I need to join the May 18 Truth Investigation Special Committee, but I am unable to enter."

The May 18 People's Uprising Detainees Association and others filed charges of defamation and other offenses against them. Earlier, the police who investigated the case sent it to the prosecution last year with a recommendation not to indict, stating that the criminal charges against them were not substantiated.

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