Gwangju Independent Local Council Members Demand Immediate Withdrawal of Yoon's Appointment of Kim Gwang-dong as Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho] The group of independent basic council members in Gwangju announced on the 14th a statement expressing concern over the appointment of Kim Gwang-dong, chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, amid ongoing controversy.

The council members stated, "The chairman, who should handle past facts with the most impartial perspective, has belittled the April 3rd Uprising, denied the helicopter shootings by the May 18 martial law troops, and claimed North Korean military involvement. Recently, a thesis distorting the truth of May 18 was even discovered, proving a biased far-right mindset. Appointing such a person as the chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is an act of justifying state violence and human rights violations."

They added, "This is a hypocritical self-contradiction that denies the past history recognized by the president himself through his visit to the May 18 National Cemetery. It is an act of disregarding the people and building walls again with Gwangju. We demand a direct apology first and the immediate withdrawal of the appointment."

In response, Park Jong-gyun, the head of the group, urged the president's decision, saying, "The president's behavior, which indirectly denies historical truths that have been fully revealed even through court rulings, will ultimately face national resistance and lead to self-inflicted harm."

Meanwhile, the council officially began its activities starting with the visit to the May 18 National Cemetery in July,

and has been actively engaged in legislative activities across various regions, including reasonable proposals for parking enforcement, statements mourning the victims and investigating the causes of the Itaewon disaster to prevent recurrence, and participation in water conservation campaigns.

Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Shin Dong-ho bless4ya@asiae.co.kr

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