Civic group to file injunction against sales of Chun's memoir

By Kim Bo-eun

A civic group commemorating the May 18 democratic uprising plans to file an injunction against the sales of former President Chun Doo-hwan’s memoir.

Chun was behind the brutal suppression of the Gwangju Uprising in 1980.

Controversy erupted after the former president’s memoir was published in April. The group filed its first injunction following the publication.

A court in August endorsed the injunction and banned the publication and distribution of the book, judging that it distorted historical facts about the uprising.

It said the book could not be published, sold, distributed and advertised without making corrections to the 33 parts incorporating false information. The false information included alleged North Korean participation, and the denial of the killing of unarmed civilians and Chun’s involvement in the suppression.

The publisher last month republished the book, making a note on the cover that the new version reflected the court’s decision.

It blacked out the 33 parts in ink, inserting a phrase that these were deleted based on the decision.

Apart from these, the book remains the same.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation said it plans to apply for a second injunction banning the publication and sale of the book with the Gwangju District Court as early as Dec. 5

This injunction outlines faults in the book that were not addressed earlier, including that it denies the secret burial of victims.

The book also states that protestors had been armed and attacked Gwangju Prison multiple times.

The foundation claims this promotes the idea of “violent Gwangju residents,” providing grounds for the authorities to use force against them.

It added this contradicts records of the uprising, as well as testimony from those involved. Moreover, many unarmed citizens suffered injuries or were killed.

The North Jeolla Province Police Agency said last month that claims that armed citizens had attacked Gwangju Prison were false.

The book also refers to allegations that the military buried the civilians they killed as “groundless rumors.”

Government-backed efforts have begun this month around Gwangju Prison to find the remains of residents who went missing during the uprising.

The ongoing search is taking place based on records and testimony that 28 civilians who had been held at the prison were killed and buried secretly.

Right after the uprising, 11 bodies of civilians were found nearby the prison.