Moonsoo Kim Criticizes Chosun Ilbo for Distorting Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, Urges Firm Response from Education Ministry

Praise for the Japanese Emperor, “Long Live Kim Il Sung,” Glorification of Chun Doo-hwan
“Extreme Fabrication and Disparagement Insult Victims and Their Families”

Inquiry by Moonsoo Kim, member of the Democratic Party of Korea. Courtesy of Moonsoo Kim's office.

Moonsoo Kim, an assemblyman of the Democratic Party of Korea representing Suncheon, Gwangyang, Gokseong, and Gurye (Gap) in South Jeolla Province, stated at the National Assembly’s Education Committee audit on October 30 that “Chosun Ilbo is distorting, fabricating, and disparaging the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, trampling on the honor of the victims and their families,” and urged, “The Ministry of Education must respond firmly to such historical distortion in media reports.”

Assemblyman Kim pointed out, “Chosun Ilbo has been publishing a series of distorted articles, blatantly denying the ‘Special Act on the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident,’ which was enacted by bipartisan agreement.” He further criticized, “Chosun Ilbo, in the past, praised ‘the benevolence of His Majesty the Emperor’ during the Japanese colonial era, shouted ‘Long live General Kim Il Sung’ during the Korean War, and glorified power by promoting ‘human Chun Doo-hwan’ during the era of military dictatorship. In this way, Chosun Ilbo has repeatedly flattered those in power and turned a blind eye to the truth throughout different eras, and now it is distorting the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident, insulting the victims and their families.”

Assemblyman Kim specifically pointed out that the October 20 edition of Chosun Ilbo distorted President Jaemyung Lee’s 77th anniversary memorial message for the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident as “supporting rebellion.” He emphasized, “President Lee never once used the term ‘insubordination.’ Is an order to massacre civilians a legitimate order? The Military Criminal Act defines insubordination only as disobedience to a legitimate order. The Chosun Ilbo report is a clear distortion of facts.”

He continued, “Chosun Ilbo reported that the 14th Regiment shouted ‘Long live the establishment of the People’s Republic,’ but the statement from the Soldiers’ Committee at the time only contained two claims: ‘Resolute opposition to fratricidal conflict’ and ‘Immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops.’ There is no such content in any of the primary sources.”

He also explained, “Chosun Ilbo defined the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident as an armed rebellion led by Namrodang (the South Korean Workers’ Party) cells, but this is not historically accurate. The South Jeolla Province branch of Namrodang was not aware of the uprising in advance, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s investigation revealed that 84.9% of the victims were civilians massacred by the military and police.”

He criticized, “Chosun Ilbo characterized the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident as an ‘attempt by communists to overthrow the regime,’ but there is no such wording anywhere in the Special Act on the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident. Chosun Ilbo is denying even the legal definition and distorting history.”

In response, Minister of Education Kyojin Choi said, “I agree with the definition of the Yeosu-Suncheon Incident as stated in the Special Act, and textbooks are written in accordance with the law. Whether or not to respond directly to media reports requires further consideration.”

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