[Photo] Chun Doo-hwan found guilty of distorting facts in memoir

The Gwangju District Court ruled on Sept. 13 that ex-president Chun Doo-hwan distorted the facts surrounding the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in his memoir and ordered him to pay reparations of 70 million won (US$62,338) to the surviving families of the incident’s victims as well as to civic groups related to the democratization movement. In his memoir, Chun wrote that the testimony of a priest who witnessed a military helicopter firing upon innocent civilians was a liar. The court ruled that Chun is to pay reparations to the Cho Yeong-dae, nephew of the Catholic father Cho Bi-o as well as to four civic groups dedicated to activities related to commemorating the victims of the massacre. (Hankyoreh archives)