On the 18th, the 46th memorial ceremony for fallen military and police personnel of May 18th is being held at the National Seoul Memorial Hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. The ceremony, jointly hosted by the Republic of Korea Special Warfare Command Comrades Association and the May 18th Military and Police Fallen Personnel Restoration of Honor Committee, was held to comfort the souls of the 27 individuals buried in graves 28 and 29 of the National Cemetery and to call for the restoration of honor for the sacrificed military and police. Reporter Heo Gyeom ©Hanmi Ilbo

The weight of death was different for the 27 soldiers and police officers who sacrificed their lives trying to protect citizens' lives and property from rioters who seized reserve weapons during the May 18th incident in 1980. The 46th memorial ceremony, held to remember and honor the noble sacrifice of the deceased who died heroically suppressing the armed riot, proceeded without government recognition. 

As the riot transformed into a democratization movement, the names of those who died on the front lines at the nation's call gradually faded from memory. Although forgotten by the public, their bereaved families and former comrades visited the memorial ceremony site, lit incense with sorrowful hearts, comforted the souls of the fallen, and vowed to uncover the truth. 

During the painful 10-day operation, the martial law forces suffered casualties: 15 from the Special Warfare Command, 3 from the 31st Division, 2 from the Combat Arms School Command, 2 from the 20th Division, and 1 from the 9th Tank Brigade. The police paid a tragic price with 4 lives lost in Hampyeong. 

Accordingly, the Supreme Court ruled the martial law forces' actions as 'riot suppression' in 1981, the year after the May 18th incident. However, 16 years later, in 1997, the Supreme Court overturned this judgment with the opposite conclusion, labeling it as 'state rebellion.' Furthermore, the Moon Jae-in administration reclassified 22 fallen soldiers from the martial law forces as 'honorable dead' in December 2020. Despite being shot and killed by rioters, their status was demoted to that of deaths from traffic accidents during official duties. 

Graves of fallen military and police personnel from May 18th. Reporter Heo GyeomOnly a few attended the memorial ceremony, including the bereaved representative Kim Ji-hyun, elder brother of the late Sergeant Kim Ji-ho, and Lee Jae-hyung, a bereaved family member of the late Sergeant Lee Gwan-hyung, hinting at the deep-seated resentment felt by the families. This reflects their profound distrust of the government and political circles that have blamed them as 'murderers' despite obeying orders and losing their lives. 

Forty-six years after the May 18th riot, the suffering of the bereaved families of the fallen continues to grow, yet a space has been created to remember their noble sacrifices. 

The '46th Memorial Ceremony for Fallen Military and Police Personnel of May 18th' was held at the National Seoul Memorial Hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the 18th, hosted by the May 18th Military and Police Fallen Personnel Restoration of Honor Committee (Chairman Uh Deuk-yong) and the Republic of Korea Special Warfare Command Comrades Association (Chairman Im Tae-hyun). Approximately 300 people, including bereaved families, retired military personnel, and citizens, attended the ceremony. 

Chairman Uh Deuk-yong of the Special Mission Committee stated, "It is urgent for the nation to take responsible action to restore the honors that were revoked and downgraded to honorable deaths for those who died in rebellions, riots, insurrections, and wars, and to re-elevate their status." He emphasized, "The absence of a memorial tower for the May 18th fallen, which is unique among war casualties, is also a task that must be addressed in the future." 

Following Chairman Uh's introduction of the guests, Vice Chairman Kim Dae-yong of the Special Mission Committee reported on the committee's activities and comforted the bereaved families, saying, "We will strive harder and fulfill our mission for the restoration of honor for the patriotic heroes of the May 18th military and police." 

Lee Jae-gyu, Secretary-General of the Special Warfare Command Comrades Association, began by saying, "We will remember forever," and then listed the names of the fallen, stating, "In May 1980, during a period of extreme political and economic turmoil, they were deployed to maintain order at the nation's command, fulfilling their duty of devotion to the country and their fundamental military mission, becoming eternal stars of national salvation." 

During the memorial ceremony, the bereaved family representative, bereaved family members, the chairman of the Special Warfare Command Comrades Association, the chairman of the Special Mission Committee, followed by the advisory group of the Special Warfare Command Comrades Association, wounded veterans, participating comrades, the chairman group of the National Association for the Salvation of the Nation's Military, each branch of the Special Warfare Command Comrades Association, and social organizations including the Special Mission Committee, offered flowers and incense in that order. 

On the 18th, attendees observe a moment of silence at the 46th memorial ceremony for fallen military and police personnel of May 18th at the National Seoul Memorial Hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Reporter Heo Gyeom ©Hanmi Ilbo 

In the subsequent program, eulogies were delivered by: Chairman of the Special Warfare Command Comrades Association; Former Army Chief of Staff and Co-Chairman of the Buddhist Federation for the Defense of the Republic of Korea (Bongtcheon), Park Hee-do; Senior Advisor of the Special Warfare Command Comrades Association; Lee Sang-dae, retired Army Colonel and representative of the same graduating class as the late Major Cha Jeong-hwan; and Im Seong-san, president of the Evergreen Poetry Recitation Association, who recited a memorial poem. Religious rites were performed by Monk Eungcheon and Pastor Park Jong-seong, followed by the offering of flowers and incense. Soprano Professor Byun Gyeong-su performed a memorial song of longing, and Pastor Kim Won-ha played the trumpet rendition of 'Bimok.' A moment of silence was observed for the fallen, followed by the rendition of 'Black Beret,' and the ceremony concluded with closing remarks. 

Attendees at the memorial ceremony included Shin Yun-hee, former Provost Marshal and Co-Chairman of Bongtcheon; Byun Gil-nam, former commander of the 39th Division, who served as the commander of the 13th Battalion of the 3rd Airborne Brigade; Lee Sang-hyu, president of the May 18th Participating Military Association, who served as the area commander of the 9th Region of the 13th Battalion of the 3rd Airborne Brigade. Also present were Chairman Jang Chung-geun of the National Council of Elders, Chairman Lee Ju-cheon of the May 18th History Association, former chairman Lee Seok-hee of the Naval Academy Patriotic Comrades Association, and Chairman Choi Jang-gyu of the Marine Corps Officer Patriotic Comrades Association, representing the joint military comrades associations. Won Jong-sam, chairman of the ROTC Patriotic Comrades Association; Lee Du-ho, chairman of the National Movement for Freedom Protection; Ha Ji-ho, secretary-general of Bongtcheon; and Oh Sang-jong, representative of the Free Homeland Association, also participated. The Association of All Military Academy Patriotic Comrades was unable to attend due to a scheduling conflict with a joint seminar for the service academies. 

Prior to the indoor ceremony, attendees paid respects at the graves of former Presidents Syngman Rhee and Park Chung-hee, and then visited graves 28 and 29 at the National Cemetery, where the 27 individuals are interred, to offer their condolences. 

On the 18th, the 46th memorial ceremony for fallen military and police personnel of May 18th is being held at the National Seoul Memorial Hall in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Reporter Heo Gyeom ©Hanmi IlboReporter Heo Gyeom