Another Controversial Statement on the May 18 Democratic Uprising... Truth and Reconciliation Commission Chair: "No Confirmation of North Korean Involvement" [2024 National Audit]

Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the Public Administration Committee, "Historically Verified Fact"

Kim Kwang-dong, chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, sparked controversy again on the 25th by making the outrageous claim that “there is no evidence of North Korea’s involvement in the May 18 Democratic Uprising.”

Kim Kwang-dong, Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for Past Affairs.
Photo by Kim Hyun-min

On that day, during the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee’s audit, Chairman Kim responded to a question from committee member Shin Jeong-hoon asking, “Do you think it is impossible to confirm North Korea’s involvement in the May 18 Democratic Uprising?” by saying, “(That part) has not been confirmed. I find it difficult to understand how this distorts the May 18 Democratic Uprising.”

Committee member Shin shouted back, “This is a historically confirmed fact. Why can’t you say that there was no North Korean involvement?” and added, “Are you playing word games with the National Assembly, the media, and the public?”

Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee.
[Photo by Asia Economy=DB]

Democratic Party lawmakers also strongly opposed the remarks. Yoon Geon-young, the Democratic Party’s secretary of the Public Administration and Security Committee, criticized, “On the 10th, Chairman Kim said that while there was no involvement of North Korean troops, there was involvement by North Korea in general,” and said, “Do you think the National Assembly is a joke? You should apologize.” Yang Bu-nam, another Democratic Party lawmaker, pointed out, “Chairman Kim is lying,” and added, “He is giving ambiguous answers.”

Chairman Kim maintained his position, saying, “North Korea is totalitarian and has made various efforts to intervene in all incidents in the Republic of Korea,” and “I do not know whether they were involved in the May 18 Democratic Uprising. Can I confirm that? It is a matter that will be historically revealed as the North Korean regime changes.”

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