Democratic Party floor leader calls PPP bill to disclose May 18 honoree list 'vile politics'

Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, vowed Thursday to block a bill introduced by People Power Party lawmaker Lee Jin-suk that would require public disclosure of names on the May 18 Democracy Movement honoree list, calling it an act of historical distortion and secondary harm. Speaking at a national audit strategy meeting at the National Assembly, Han said the PPP's disparagement of May 18 had gone "beyond reckless remarks and is now moving into legislative revision."

Han said Lee introduced three amendment bills on Oct. 1 that would limit the scope of the May 18 Democracy Movement to Gwangju and require the annual public disclosure of the names of honorees as well as their bereaved families and relatives. "Disclosing the list is a clear violation of the Personal Information Protection Act and constitutes secondary harm," he said.

Han added that courts had already recognized the privacy risks posed by such disclosure and ruled that keeping the list confidential was justified. "If they intend to revise the law knowing this, they are simply following the demands of far-right forces who seek to stigmatize the victims of May 18 and use them as targets of attack," he said.

He said PPP interim leader Jang Dong-hyeok and lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Kim Tae-gyu were among the co-sponsors of the bill. "This can no longer be dismissed as an individual's deviation," Han said. "The People Power Party must clearly state what its official position is."

Han said the National Assembly was preserved through the sacrifices of May 18 and that legislation trampling on its honor had no place there. He called on the PPP to immediately withdraw the amendment bills and offer a formal apology before the spirits of those who died and the honorees and their families.

Han also welcomed the successful fifth launch of Nuri, South Korea's homegrown space launch vehicle, on Wednesday, calling it "a valuable achievement of the Lee Jae Myung government, which has steadfastly supported space launches." He said the Lee Jae Myung government and the Democratic Party would provide the necessary legislation and budget to help South Korea rise to become "a genuine top-five space power in the world."