Lecture by Lee Jinsuk, Accused of Disparaging May 18, Canceled After Gwangju City Revokes Venue Rental

Controversy Grows Over Planned Lecture at Jeonil Building 245, a May 18 Historical Site
Gwangju City Cites Municipal Ordinance in Canceling Event Deemed Political
Closed-Door Lecture to Proceed at Separate Venue Amid Civic Group Backlash

A lecture in Gwangju by former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsuk, who has been at the center of controversy for allegedly distorting and disparaging the May 18 Democratization Movement, has been called off after the rental of the Jeonil Building 245 venue was canceled. The Gwangju City Government determined that the lecture constituted a politically motivated event and revoked the facility use permit.

Former Korea Communications Commission Chairperson Lee Jinsuk is answering questions from lawmakers at a comprehensive audit held by the National Assembly's Science, ICT, Broadcasting and Communications Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on October 30 last year. Photo by Yonhap News

On the 6th, the Gwangju City Government announced that it had canceled the rental of Jeonil Building 245, which had been booked by the conservative-leaning group “Honam Alternative Forum for Common Sense and Justice.” The city explained that, under the ordinance governing the use of the facility, it may revoke permission if a specific organization uses the venue for political purposes.

Previously, the Honam Alternative Forum had planned to hold a lecture on the 8th, inviting the former chairperson under the theme “How to Stop Lee Jaemyung’s Sovereign State.” The lecture venue was announced as the 4th floor of Jeonil Building 245, a designated historical site of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

In 2023, it became known that the former chairperson had clicked “like” on a social media comment that was seen as distorting the May 18 Democratization Movement, which sparked controversy during her confirmation hearing at the National Assembly. At the time, lawmakers repeatedly questioned her on the issue during the hearing, and she later faced further criticism over remarks related to former President Yoon Suk Yeol.

After news of the planned lecture emerged, the civic group Gwangju-Jeonnam Candlelight Action issued a statement, arguing that “it is inappropriate for someone who insults May 18 to give a lecture at a historical site of the democratization movement where the citizens’ militia fought against the martial law forces during May 18,” and calling for the plan to be withdrawn. The group also pointed out that the location is historically significant as a space where traces of helicopter gunfire from May 18 have been confirmed, criticizing the venue choice as inappropriate.

Following the cancellation of the venue rental, the Honam Alternative Forum is reported to be planning to change the location and hold a closed-door lecture at a separate venue on the 8th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.