Two men referred to prosecution for calling May 18 uprising a ‘riot’ online

Two men were referred to prosecutors on Monday for allegedly describing the May 18 Democratization Movement as a “riot" in a post on the far-right online community Ilbe. 

The Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency announced that the two men were referred to prosecutors without detention on charges of violating the Special Act on the May 18 Democratization Movement.

The democratic uprising in Gwangju in 1980 left hundreds dead after a brutal military suppression.

One of them allegedly posted false information on Ilbe, a far-right online community, in May that characterized the May 18 Democratization Movement as a riot.

The other man allegedly made two posts with similar claims in April and May that distorted the events of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

Police identified the two men while monitoring online communities ahead of the anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

The special act, which took effect in 2021, stipulates a prison term of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won ($36,200) for spreading false information about the May 18 Democratization Movement.

“Distorting the May 18 Democratization Movement does more than insult victims and their families or tarnish their reputation,” a police official said. “Freedom of expression is no shield for malicious and demonstrably false claims. We will investigate such cases to the full extent of the law.”

BY PARK JONG-SUH [[email protected]]