Imprisoned for Distributing Leaflets Criticizing Jeon Du-hwan... Prosecution Seeks Acquittal in Retrial

[Asia Economy Reporter Bae Kyunghwan] In the retrial of a high school student who was sentenced to prison and served time for distributing leaflets criticizing former President Jeon Du-hwan during the May 18 Democratic Movement, the prosecution requested a not guilty verdict.

On the 20th, the prosecution stated "Please acquit" at the first retrial hearing of Lee Woo-bong (59) on charges of violating the Martial Law Act, held by the Criminal Division 1-2 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Eom Sang-pil, Shim Dam, Lee Seung-ryeon).

Lee, a third-year student at Sinheung High School in Jeonbuk, planned a general uprising with his classmates when the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Movement broke out in 1980 but was blocked by military forces. Later, in June and July of the same year, Lee created leaflets criticizing former President Jeon, who was then the Commander of the Republic of Korea Army Security Command, and the military's suppression of Gwangju, and distributed them in downtown Jeonju. Subsequently, Lee was prosecuted for violating the Martial Law Act by publishing leaflets without prior censorship, was sentenced to six months in prison at the appellate trial, and served his sentence.

In his final statement, Lee said, "My actions as a high school student in 1980 were driven by anger towards Jeon Du-hwan and his group, who massacred the citizens of Gwangju to seize power, and were the pure passion of a high school student to overthrow Jeon Du-hwan's group and protect democracy."

The court concluded the arguments that day and will deliver the retrial verdict on the 29th of next month.

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