Special Forces Association, canceling the May 18th Democratic Cemetery visit plan on the 23rd

㈔ The Korean Special Forces Association decided to cancel the visit to the National May 18th National Cemetery, which was planned on the 23rd, for fear of conflict with civic groups.

On the 22nd, according to the Association of the Victims of the 5/18 Democratization Movement and the Association of the Merited People, the Special Forces Society planned to honor and worship the spirits in May at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju at 11:30 a.m. on the 23rd, but withdrew the plan.

It is known that this decision was made amid an expected clash with civic groups opposing the Special Warfare Society’s visit to the May 18th Cemetery.

Previously, the Association for the Wounded and the Merited Society held the ‘Inclusiveness, Reconciliation and Gratitude, Joint Declaration Ceremony for the People’ in February, together with the Special Forces Society. There was a point that it was a ‘thief’s visit’ to visit the cemetery.

In addition, the ‘Joint Declaration of the People’ was held and the declaration was announced, and the special forces soldiers who were committed to May 18th at the time ‘performed their duties inevitably by order’ and ‘the soldiers also suffered from trauma in the process of oppressing citizens’. There was controversy over giving the special forces soldiers immunity by saying, “I am a victim of the May 18th because I suffered mental and physical pain.”

In response, an official from the Society of Meritorious Persons said, “They themselves admitted that they failed to understand the hearts of the citizens of Gwangju and made wrong remarks by the Special Forces Society and expressed their intention to apologize for this.” We have no plans to withdraw, and we will continue to pursue it.”

The Pan-City Citizens’ Countermeasure Committee for Keeping the Spirit of May, composed of 1,646 groups, emphasized, “Under any circumstances, you cannot set foot in the grave without reflection, withdrawal, and a sincere apology for the public declaration.”