5·18 Group: "Yoon's Statement Merely an Excuse... Intensifies Public Anger"

"Disregard for Public Common Sense... An Act of Undermining Democracy"

On the morning of the 12th, citizens at Seoul Station are watching President Yoon Suk-yeol's address on TV. Photo by Yonhap News

The May 18 organizations condemned President Yoon Seok-yeol's December 12 national address, in which he stated that the '12·3 emergency martial law incident was a highly political act,' calling it "a statement that disregards the common sense of the people" and saying it "only intensified confusion."

The three May 18 organizations (the Bereaved Families Association, the Injured Association, and the Meritorious Persons Association) along with the May 18 Memorial Foundation issued a statement that day, saying, "The national address announced by the criminal President Yoon thoroughly ignores the common sense and justice of the people and is full of excuses to justify his own act of rebellion," adding, "It is merely an attempt to shift responsibility for the failure of the martial law he led onto the opposition party, resulting in further anger and confusion among the people."

They stated, "Yoon Seok-yeol is trapped in an anachronistic mindset. His way of thinking is a direct continuation of the authoritarian repression of the 1980s," pointing out, "This recalls the past dictatorship that suppressed the people's freedom and democracy and is an act that seriously damages the current democracy of the Republic of Korea."

The May organizations also emphasized, "The crime of plunging the nation into great chaos through martial law enforced by military power cannot be justified for any reason," adding, "Like a rat cornered making its worst struggle, President Yoon's actions to conceal his crimes and deceive the people will surely face the judgment of history. The May organizations will fight to the end to protect a just Republic of Korea."

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