On May 18, marking the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, independent Gwangsan candidate Gu Bon-gi announced five pledges focused on preserving the movement’s legacy and rooting out insurrectionist forces.
At the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery, Gu said he would require military personnel, police officers and public servants to visit the May 18 memorial sites; mandate May 18 commemorative lessons in elementary, middle and high schools; and pursue enshrining the May 18 spirit in the constitution’s preamble.
Gu attended the May 18 memorial ceremony in front of the old Jeonnam provincial government office in the morning, then visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in the afternoon before unveiling his pledges.
His campaign said that nothing in South Korea is more urgent than fully condemning insurrection, stressing that carrying on the May 18 legacy, dismantling insurrectionist forces and preventing a recurrence of the Dec. 3 insurrection are closely linked tasks.
Gu identified institutionalizing education on the May 18 spirit and history as a top priority. He plans to make visits to the May 18 burial grounds mandatory for the military, police and public officials and to institutionalize commemorative lessons on the May 18 Gwangju Uprising across elementary, middle and high schools nationwide.
He also expressed his intention to push for the dissolution of the People Power Party and to include the May 18 spirit in the constitution’s preamble.
Gu pledged to introduce a strengthened May 18 Insult Punishment Act to replace the current May 18 Distortion Punishment Act, tightening legal standards so authorities can punish not only the spread of false information but any acts that insult or damage the legacy of May 18.
He also said he will press for a full investigation into U.S. responsibility and demand an official apology for U.S. actions during May 18. Gu argued that the United States, which exercised operational control over Korean forces at the time, must face a thorough probe into allegations that it tolerated or aided the Gwangju massacre.
Gu pledged to draft a Special Law to Globalize the May 18 Spirit, pursue the creation of an international organization, and host a May 18 World Youth Conference that would bring together young people from around the globe.
\”In an era of rising far-right movements worldwide, Gwangju must be a beacon of hope,\” Gu said. \”We will use the May 18 spirit to ensure that insurrection is fully condemned.\”
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