5.18 Martial Law Forces First Public Apology for Shooting and Killing Young Man in Front of Bereaved Family

This is the first case in 41 years. On the 16th, Mr. A, from the martial law army, who killed a young man during the 5.18 Democratization Movement, personally apologized on the 16th. This is the first time that a former martial law soldier has publicly apologized in front of a bereaved family, especially the family of the person he killed himself.

The young man’s older brother accepted Mr. A’s apology. Not only that, he shouted “Thank you for apologizing” and hugged him. The two shed tears of forgiveness and remorse while hugging each other.

‘Confession and testimony’ took the first step like this.

Bereaved Family “Forgive everything a long time ago, the one who gave the order is the bad guy”

The May 18 Democratization Movement Fact Investigation Committee said in a press release on the 17th, “A member of the Airborne Corps, who participated in the martial law army at the time of May 18, admitted that innocent deaths occurred due to his shooting, and met with the bereaved family to seek apology and forgiveness. There were many cases in which the martial law forces who participated in the operation testified of the incidents they witnessed, but it was the first time that the perpetrator expressed his intention to apologize to the bereaved, saying that he himself killed a certain person.

Earlier, through the committee, Mr. A confessed that he killed a citizen on May 23, 1980 near the reservoir of’Nodaenamje’ located in Nodae-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju. The committee presented the identity of the victim who died there at the time to Mr. A, and Mr. A admitted that he was the person he killed.

The person A killed was the late Park Byeong-hyun, who is asleep in the’National 5.18 Democratic Cemetery 2-02′. Park (25 years old at the time of May 18), born in 1956, went on the road to help with rural work in his hometown Boseong while working at a watch store in Gwangju.

The committee met with Mr. Park’s older brother and delivered it when Mr. A expressed his intention to apologize to his bereaved family. Park’s elder brother said, “My family has forgiven all of them a long time ago. What kind of crime is there for the soldier? Is there any more sins for carrying out the order? The one who gave the order was the bad guy,” and said he would accept the apology.

The committee was contemplating whether or not to disclose the meeting of the two. This is because it was necessary to lead Mr. A’s apology to the public domain beyond personal moral reflection. Mr. A, who was contemplating the committee’s public apology proposal, finally decided to accept it.

The two brothers of Mr. A and Mr. Park met on the 16th at the democratic questioning room at the 5.18 National Cemetery. Mr. A bowed down to the bereaved at this place and cried, “I apologize for the pain that cannot be washed by any words. I hesitated to think that my apology would give another pain.” He said, “I have suffered a sense of guilt for the past 40 years,” he said. “I am glad I can meet the survivors and ask for forgiveness.

Park’s elder brother, Park Jong-soo (73), said, “Thank you for apologizing even late. I think I’ve met my dead brother again.” “I replied.

The committee said, “The committee has confirmed a number of cases similar to Mr. A’s confession through investigation activities.” In the future, if there is a mutual intention between the martial law forces and the victim, the committee actively arranges this and apologizes and forgives for the purpose of establishing the investigation committee. It will contribute to the healing of the unfortunate past and national unity.”