The Memorial Hall for the Democratization Movement. Yonhap News

Democratization movement contributors were originally honored by the state for resisting authoritarian rule and expanding the freedom and rights of the people. However, the reality we witness today is far removed from that justification. Cases of martial law being declared an insurrection, privileges based on taxpayer money being hereditary, and threats to the liberal democratic order are continuously being exposed.

Choi Gyo-jin, the nominee for Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, gained recognition for his career with the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTU) and has enjoyed various benefits as a designated democratization contributor. However, the prevailing assessment is that his life trajectory is detached from the development of liberal democracy. If the benefits provided by taxpayer money have been used as a bridgehead for the collapse of the system, it is a betrayal of national consensus.

The situation becomes even more serious when examining the White Paper on the Democratization Movement. Among the acts recorded under the name of "Democratization Movement," there are a considerable number of cases involving refusal of state orders, raids on armories, and punishments for national security incidents. Many individuals associated with the INHyukdang Reconstruction Committee, the National Liberation Front of South Korea (Namminjeon), and the Sammintu are included in the list of contributors, and some of these incidents led to violent clashes and armed confrontations. Nevertheless, the reality that these individuals are subjects of honor and enjoy various privileges through taxpayer money confuses the public.

What is even more concerning is the fact that they are positioned at the core of the political establishment. Numerous figures, including National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, National Assembly Vice Speaker Lee Hak-young, Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung, and Gwangju Mayor Kang Giseong, hold positions of power as democratization contributors. These individuals led the political narrative that distorted the martial law incident of December 3rd last year into an "insurrection," emerging as key players threatening the liberal democratic system. One cannot help but question whether they are truly qualified to invoke the spirit of democratization.

Former President Moon Jae-in not only designated democratization contributors but also added hundreds more during his term, and during former President Roh Moo-hyun's administration, thousands of May 18 Gwangju Uprising contributors were also produced. The honoring of contributors has ceased to be a form of compensation and has instead transformed into a basis for a political cartel. It has become a tool to support the hereditary power of a specific faction rather than to inherit the spirit of democratization.

The people desire a liberal democratic system. However, the democratization contributor cartel, advocating pro-North Korean sentiments and anti-American and anti-Japanese ideologies, continues to act in a way that seems intended to reduce South Korea to a subordinate state. If the justification of democratization is misused as a means to legitimize a transition to a totalitarian system, it is a betrayal of democratization and an insult to public trust.

Now, we must ask. What the people recognized as contributors was compensation for their contributions to ending dictatorship and expanding freedom. However, today's reality is a structure where privileges based on taxes and the monopolization of power continue under the name of "democratization." If this continues, democratization contributors will not be objects of respect but will be subject to public judgment.

The liberal democratic system must not be undermined under the guise of the democratization movement. A comprehensive re-verification of the democratization contributor system is inevitable. We must clearly distinguish between achievements and failures and dispassionately assess the legitimacy of the privileges. To ensure that the honor bestowed by the people is not used as a tool for the collapse of the system, now is the time to carry out a historical reckoning.

[Attachment] Excerpt from the White Paper on Democratization Movement Contributors

Members of the Democratic Party of Korea

Woo Won-sik (Speaker of the National Assembly), Lee Hak-young (Vice Speaker of the National Assembly), Yoon Ho-jung (Minister of the Interior and Safety), Kim Yoon-deok (Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport), Seo Young-kyo, Yoon Ho-deuk, Park Seon-won, Kim Young-jin, Kim Jeong-ho, So Byung-hoon, Wi Seong-gon, Jin Seong-joon, Min Byung-deok, Shin Young-dae, Yoon Kun-young, Lee Su-jin, Lee Yong-sun, Lee Hae-sik, Jeong Tae-ho, Kim Nam-geun, Song Jae-bong, Lee Gi-heon, Lee Yeon-hee, Lee Jae-gang (Former Vice Governor for Peace, Gyeonggi Province), Huh Seong-moo (Former Mayor of Changwon)

Members of the Rebuilding Korea Party

Cha Gyu-geun (Subject of investigation related to Kim Hak-ui's illegal departure case)

Legal Circles, Our Law Research Society Alumni

Park Bum-gye, Choi Ki-sang

Others

Kang Giseong (Mayor of Gwangju, Democratization Contributor and May 18 Contributor)

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