'"5·18 Jinsanggyumyeong Protest" Participant After 43 Years: "Innocent"'

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Kwang-ho] A man in his 60s who participated in a protest demanding the truth about the '5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement' was acquitted after 43 years.

On the 18th, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors' Office announced that it had ruled the case of 61-year-old man A, transferred from the military prosecution, as 'not guilty' for violating the Martial Law Proclamation and 'no charges' for obstruction of official duties.

The prosecution viewed Mr. A's participation in the protest as a legitimate act opposing crimes that destroy the constitutional order, and considered the police's execution of their duties at the time to be illegal. Around November 1980, when Mr. A was 18 years old, he participated in a rally demanding the truth about the '5·18 Gwangju Massacre and the overthrow of military dictatorship.'

He was involved in the protest by distributing leaflets and chanting slogans, and was accused of tripping a police officer who was trying to arrest the rally leader. The Military Security Court of the Capital Defense Command had issued a suspension of prosecution for this case in December 1980, one month later.

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