hankyoreh

June 10. (by Kim Jeong-hyo

By Jung Dae-ha, Gwangju correspondent in Seoul

“Dignity for my son’s death! Come out, Chun Doo-hwan!”

“How dare you can live in such luxury after killing our sons!”

On June 10, citizens were shouting at the entrance to at former president Chun Doo-hwan’s home in the Yeonhui neighborhood of Seoul’s Seodaemun District. They were mothers who lost their children during the Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980. Civic organizations prepared bus transportation from Gwangju to Seoul- so-called May Buses. Once the bus arrived, 200 people from Gwangju got out to protest Chun Doo-hwan’s unpaid penalties.

Kim Kil-ja, 73, is the mother of Moon Jae-hak who was shot to death by the Martial Forces at South Jeolla Provincial Office on May 27, 1980 when he was only 17. The same day, the movement was squashed by the Martial Forces. Kim said, “Chun’s family has lived on the hidden assets which he stole. That’s why we must punish him by getting back all his concealed assets.”

It was the first group action made against Chun in the 17 years since the May 18 Special Act was first enacted in December 1995. The June 10 protest was initiated by distorted TV programs on the May 18 Movement that were broadcast on conservative cable TV networks. The protestors believe the fact that Chun has still never made a full confession to the public made it possible for the TV networks to distort history in this way.

In addition, Chun’s first son was recently revealed to have set up a paper company in a tax haven where he held a large slush fund. The news of his slush fund triggered great public anger over Chun’s unpaid penalties. What’s more, the government’s intention to exclude the “March for the Beloved” from the list of ceremonial songs at the May 18 Democratization Movement Ceremony was another factor that encouraged the group’s action.

Survivors and victims of the May 18 Democratization Movement headed towards the Chun’s home with sign boards, saying “No more security service benefits for the killer! Collect all unpaid penalties!”

When blocked by the police, they shouted, “Chun must kill himself! Chun must kill himself!” They then laid a picture of Chun on the ground and stomped on it.

The members of the May 18 Movement organization gathered at Gwangju City Hall early in the monring on that day to get on the three May Buses heading towards Seoul. The May Buses were arranged by a civic group opposed to the distortion of the history of the May 18 Movement. Their goals are to put forth accurate history on the May 18 Movement and encourage public participation toward the payment of Chun’s concealed assets. The civic group’s efforts on that day were joined by 120 members of other groups including the May 18 Men of Merit Association, Gwangju-Jeonnam Progressive Solidarity, and Gwangju Civil Society Association.

Lee Ji-hyun, 60, lost sight in one of his eyes after a fierce clash with Martial Forces during the May 18 Movement. He was arrested, tortured and sentenced twice for calling for an urgent investigation into the May 18 Movement. On his way to Seoul, he mimicked Chun’s voice and said, “I am sure I only have 290,000 won in my account! I qualify for Basic Livelihood Benefits, so why doesn’t Park Geun-hye give them to me?” A few on the bus giggled while others could not laugh, but only sigh at the hard reality they face.

Lee continued, “Isn’t it more difficult to hide the money than it is to earn it? I would recommend Chun for the Nobel Prize for the world’s best magician! If he would not pay the 167.2 billion won for his penalty, then let’s give him ‘Beautiful Holiday’ - an operation name for the military action taken in Gwangju during the May Democratization Movement in 1980 - in prison for 1672 years!”

The May buses arrived at Channel A, a cable channel owned by the conservative Donga Ilbo newspaper in Seoul. The members threw bunches of eggs at the building in protest, shouting, “no more distorted TV programs! Channel A must close down!” They then moved to another general programming station, TV Chosun, owned by the conservative Chosun Ilbo newspaper, which also televised a program that distorted the history of the May 18 movement. The protestors threw eggs and flour onto their building.

The two channels, televised programs that taunted the victims of the May 18 Movement and spread the unverified rumor that North Korea’s special forces had intervened in the movement.

The protestors then moved to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) to call for the resignation of MPVA Minister Park Seung-chun, who attempted to exclude the “March for the Beloved” from the list of official ceremonial songs.

This day’s events marks the starting point for the protests against the distortion of history of the May 18 Movement and efforts to withdraw Chun’s concealed assets, which will be followed by more relevant campaigns this month.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]