hankyoreh

Over 80,000 people visited Gwangju’s May 18 National Cemetery to commemorate the 39th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement. Public interest in the movement has increased of late due to slanderous comments made by Liberty Korea Party lawmakers, who have claimed the movement was orchestrated by North Korean spies and special forces. The trial of Chun Doo-hwan, whose regime was in power during the movement, for libel in relation to a testimony regarding a helicopter opening fire on civilians, has also inspired people to revisit the events of the movement.