Assemblyman Jin Wook Jung Proposes 'May 18 Distortion and Slander Prevention Act'

"We Must Prevent Historical Mockery Such as 'Tank Day'"

Jin Wook Jung, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea (representing Gwangju Dongnam-gap), has sponsored a bill that would allow for the punishment of acts that deny, distort, or slander the May 18 Democratic Movement.

On May 21, Assemblyman Jung announced that he had proposed an amendment to the current “Special Act on the May 18 Democratic Movement, etc.” to expand punishment beyond the dissemination of false information related to May 18, to also include acts of denial, slander, distortion, and fabrication.

Currently, the law only prohibits “the dissemination of false information” regarding the May 18 Democratic Movement. As a result, there have been criticisms that there is insufficient legal basis to punish those who deny, mock, or trivialize these historical facts.

Jinwook Jung

Assemblyman Jung cited recent inappropriate marketing cases by certain companies around the anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement as a background for the need to amend the law.

He pointed out that a particular company held a so-called “May 18 Tank Day” event and used expressions reminiscent of the sacrifices made during the Democratic Movement in their marketing, which sparked controversy. However, under the current law, criminal punishment is difficult to pursue.

Assemblyman Jung stated, “The May 18 Democratic Movement is a historical event that protected democracy and the constitutional order of the Republic of Korea. Allowing acts that mock or distort this under the name of freedom of expression shakes the very foundations of democracy.”

The proposed amendment changes the title of Article 8 of the Special Act to “Prohibition of Denial, Slander, Distortion, Fabrication, and Dissemination of False Information regarding the May 18 Democratic Movement,” and expands the scope of prohibited acts.

Jung's office emphasized the need for legal measures against historical distortion, citing laws related to the victims of Japanese military “comfort women” and provisions in Germany that punish Holocaust denial as examples.

A total of 20 lawmakers, including Yang Bunam, Lee Gaeho, Moon Geumjoo, Lee Eonju, and Han Jeongae, joined as co-sponsors of the bill.

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