5·18 Foundation "Thorough Investigation Needed by Conducting a Complete Survey of Missing Persons Reporters to Uncover the Truth of 5·18"

One Set of Remains Found at Old Gwangju Prison Unclaimed Graves Matches 5·18 Missing Person DNA

Two Other Sets Likely Match Missing Persons... "The Link to Secret Burial Revealed"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Among the 262 skeletal remains discovered in 2019 at the unclaimed gravesite of the former Gwangju Prison, one has been confirmed as the remains of a missing person from the May 18 Democratic Movement. Two other remains are also highly likely to match missing persons.

As a result, voices are emerging calling for a thorough investigation of the reporters who have not been recognized as missing persons so far, along with securing DNA to fully reveal the truth.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation issued a statement on the 26th, saying, “The former Gwangju Prison was identified as a site where martial law troops secretly buried citizens who died during May 18. In 2019, numerous unidentified skeletal remains were found in the unclaimed gravesite during construction,” and added, “After comparing the DNA from the remains with the genetic material obtained from the blood of 277 family members of missing persons kept by Gwangju Metropolitan City, it was confirmed that one set of remains matched a missing person.”

They continued, “The suspicion of secret burial during May 18, which had not been revealed for the past 42 years, has been confirmed as fact,” and explained, “Although the suspicion of secret burial had been consistently raised based on testimonies, eyewitness accounts, and military records, this is the first time the identity of a missing person has been confirmed.”

Furthermore, “The foundation had been steadily investigating the secret burial site until 2019 to find the victims but failed to find traces of secret burial,” claiming, “This was due to the martial law troops’ organized attempt to conceal the truth.”

They also stated, “The Jeon Du-hwan group continuously denied the secret burial of May 18 victims and distorted the facts with falsehoods. In particular, Jeon Du-hwan denied the secret burial even in his 2017 memoir ‘Jeon Du-hwan Memoirs,’” and raised their voice, “However, the skeletal remains found at Gwangju Prison this time matched the DNA of missing persons, revealing the reality of their deaths.”

The organization urged, “Since the link between missing persons and secret burial suspicions has been confirmed as fact through this investigation, the May 18 Truth Investigation Commission should conduct a full survey of reporters who have not been recognized as missing persons so far and secure DNA to fully uncover the truth.”

They added, “Also, the government should take responsibility for the past concealment of the massacre of citizens and actively work to restore the honor of missing persons and thoroughly investigate the remaining unresolved facts.”

Meanwhile, Gwangju Metropolitan City has officially accepted reports of May 18 missing persons since 1990, but due to a lack of data, only 78 out of 448 reported individuals have been recognized as missing persons.

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