The controversy over the Moon Jae-in administration’s real estate policy against the radical suppression of martial law forces during the May 18 Democratization Movement. Manpyeong (top) posted by Maeil Newspaper on the website on the 19th, and martial law forces hitting fallen citizens during the May 18 Democratization Movement (bottom). yunhap news
The controversy is that the Moon Jae-in administration’s real estate policy is considered a controversy over the airborne troops suppressing the May 18 Democratization Movement. The press has been clarifying, but criticism has not faded.
On the 22nd, the daily newspaper Maeil Shinmun in Daegu posted a statement on Maeil Heipyeong (manpyeong) on March 19 on its website. This man-pyeong criticizes the government’s real estate policy and depicts the personification of the construction fee, property tax, and taxation tax as a soldier with a club and hitting one homeowner in excess of 900 million won. When the cartoon went out, it was criticized as suspicion was raised that it was painted as it was based on a photograph of an airborne squad member who had been radically suppressed at the time of May 18th.
The Maeil Shinmun said, “It was pointed out the violence of the property tax, tax, and construction fee increase due to the failure of the Moon Jae-in government’s real estate policy.” It was based on the content.
He said, “We fully sympathize with the historicity and weight of the Gwangju Democratization Movement, and we are also trying to share the pain,” he said. “There was no intention to undermine the Gwangju Democratization Movement and its spirit.”
Despite the clarification of the Maeil Newspaper, organizations related to the May 18 continued strong criticism. The 5·18 Memorial Foundation and the 3 organizations related to the 5·18 (bereaved family, injured society, and constrained injured society) said, “It seems that the purpose of the man-pyeong is criticism of the state administration, but the citizens of Gwangju who encountered it had no choice but to recall the pain 41 years ago. It was an irresponsible act to heal the deep wounds of May 18,” he criticized.
“Even with this criticism, the Maeil Newspaper is consistent with excuses without a sincere apology or reflection,” he said. “With a sincere apology, we must immediately replace the manpyeong writer and come up with a plan to prevent recurrence.” They emphasized that, as if taking into account that Maeil Shinmun is a media company owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Daegu, “I will share this content with the Holy See and the media at home and abroad.”
The Maeil Shinmun union also called for responsible action by the management, saying, “It has crossed the line that should not be crossed.” The union side said, “To bring out violent scenes from someone’s memory and use them as a tool for criticism of the regime is like an act of blasphemy against the victims of the Gwangju Democratization Movement and their bereaved families.” “I urged.
Reporter Jang Joo-young [email protected]
