On the 21st, President Lee Jae Myung stated, “Malicious fake news such as the claim of North Korean involvement in 5·18, and acts that glorify crimes of state violence or insult their victims must be met with a strong response by mobilizing every available measure.” In connection with acts insulting victims of crimes of state violence, which have drawn broader public attention following Starbucks Korea’s ‘Tank Day’ event, the president personally expressed his intent to impose stern punishment, which is seen as underscoring the principle of ‘just integration’ he has long advocated. The ruling party has begun work on legislation to punish acts that insult the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, among others.

At a senior secretaries meeting he chaired at the Blue House that day, President Lee said this regarding acts that insult victims of crimes of state violence, noting, “It seems to be occurring particularly often of late.”

President Lee stated, “We must set distorted history right so that the same tragedies are not repeated,” adding, “What matters is not patching up the past superficially, but a just integration in which we squarely face wrongdoing and, on that foundation, reflection and responsibility follow.”

He continued, “Because such efforts have been lacking, poisonous mushrooms that glorify state violence and mock and insult victims are sprouting in parts of our society,” and said, “We must eradicate them at the root.”

President Lee said, “State violence is a grave, anti-humanitarian and anti-social crime in which the authorities, entrusted by the sovereign people to ensure safety and a better life, instead trample on citizens’ human rights and lives,” and added, “We should promptly conclude legislative measures that fundamentally exclude statutes of limitations for prosecution or civil claims for damages in cases of crimes of state violence.” He said, “Nazi war crimes are still held to account and compensate victims to this day.”

Jung Cheong-rae, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, told reporters while campaigning in support of the June 3 local elections in Seoul that “we have drafted a bill (a revision to the Special Act on 5·18) that would allow punishment for acts that insult, defame, or mock 5·18.” He explained, “Until now, only the dissemination of false information could be punished,” and that “the amendment establishes a basis to punish defamation due to falsehoods, insults, and mockery concerning 5·18.” He added, “Public anger over Starbucks’ Tank Day marketing appears to be far greater than expected,” and “appropriate punishment should follow.”

Han Byung-do, the Democratic Party floor leader, also said at a policy coordination meeting at the National Assembly that “we will swiftly prepare related laws and systems to strongly punish acts that mock or disparage the values of the 5·18 Democratization Movement or of the democratic republic.” Han stated, “From Starbucks’ 5·18 insult, to a performance mocking the late President Roh Moo-hyun, to Musinsa’s past desecration of martyr Park Jong-cheol, the unceasing provocations of the far-right are not something to be dismissed as an accidental happening.”

At the meeting, President Lee ordered a rigorous fact-finding into revelations that a large quantity of rebar was omitted in construction of the Seoul Samseong Station section of the Metropolitan Express Railway (GTX)-A line.

Kang Yoo-jung, the Blue House senior spokesperson, said at a briefing at Chunchugwan that day that “President Lee instructed the relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to conduct a strict fact-finding and thorough safety inspections regarding the omission of rebar in the GTX-A Samseong Station section.”

Regarding the background to the president’s instruction, Kang explained, “Given that the rainy season of summer is effectively upon us and considering the situation, the government has a responsibility and duty to look after on-site safety to prevent major accidents,” adding, “He has instructed the relevant ministries to review the causes of the incident.”