SPECIAL ACT ON THE MAY 18 DEMOCRATIZATION MOVEMENT
Act No. 5029, Dec. 21, 1995
Amended by Act No. 10182, Mar. 24, 2010
Act No. 13722, Jan. 6, 2016
Act No. 17823, Jan. 5, 2021
The purpose of this Act is to tighten national discipline, settle democracy and nourish national spirit by prescribing matters concerning the suspension of prescription of public prosecution, etc. against crimes disrupting constitutional order and crimes against humanity committed on or around December 12, 1979 and May 18, 1980 and other relevant matters. <Amended on Jan. 5, 2021>
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 1-2 (Definitions) |
| (1) | The term "May 18 Democratization Movement" in this Act means a democratization movement developed by citizens in opposition to crimes disrupting constitutional order and crimes against humanity committed on or around December 12, 1979 and May 18, 1980. |
| (2) | The term "crime against humanity" in this Act means any murder, injury, imprisonment, torture, rape, indecent act by force, or violence against civilians by the State, an organization, or an institution (including any person belonging thereto) during the period specified in paragraph (1). |
[This Article Newly Inserted on Jan. 5, 2021]
| Article 2 (Suspension of Prescription of Public Prosecution) |
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 3 (Special Provisions on Applications for Rulings) |
| (1) | When a person who lodges any complaint or accusation regarding a crime referred to in Article 2, is notified that the competent public prosecutor or military prosecutor will not institute public prosecutions, he/she may apply for a ruling as to whether the decisions not to institute public prosecutions are appropriate with the competent High Court or High Military Court corresponding to the competent High Public Prosecutor's Office or High Military Prosecutor's Office to which the relevant public prosecutor or the military prosecutor belongs. The same shall also apply where it has been determined not to institute a public prosecution against a crime referred to in Article 2 before the Special Act on May 18 Democratization Movement, Etc. (Act No. 5029) enters into force. <Amended on Jan. 6, 2016> |
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 4 (Special Reopening of Procedures) |
| (2) | The court which has made original judgment shall have jurisdiction over the request for reopening of procedures: Provided, That if the court which has made original judgment on a person not subject to the application of the Military Criminal Act is the court-martial or military court, the court at the place of his/her domicile, the level of which corresponds thereto, shall have jurisdiction. |
| (3) | The court having jurisdiction over reopening of procedures shall investigate ex officio the fact that a person who had committed a crime referred to in Article 2 was judged guilty in relation to such crime and the punishment became final and conclusive. |
| (5) | The procedures for reopening of procedures under paragraph (1) shall be subject to the application of the relevant provisions of the Criminal Procedure Act and the Military Court Act within the extent not conflicting with the character of the reopening of procedure. |
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 5 (Memorial Projects) |
The Government shall promote memorial projects succeeding to the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement.
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 6 (Legal Fiction as Compensation) |
[This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 7 (Deprivation of Awards and Decorations) |
If any evaluation of the Government on persons who have been conferred awards or decorations in connection with the May 18 Democratization Movement reveals, as a result thereof, that any person has been conferred an award or decoration only owing to the recognition of his/her meritorious service in suppressing the May 18 Democratization Movement, such conferment of awards or decorations shall be revoked and the decoration, etc. shall be recovered under Article 8 of the Awards and Decorations Act. [This Article Wholly Amended on Mar. 24, 2010]
| Article 8 (Prohibition of Dissemination of False Information on May 18 Democratization Movement) |
| (1) | A person who disseminates any false information on the May 18 Democratization Movement by any of the following methods shall be punished by imprisonment with labor for not more than five years or by a fine not exceeding 50 million won: |
| 2. | Exhibiting, posting, or showing exhibits or performances; |
| 3. | Making a remark at a debate, gathering, press conference, assembly, street speech, etc. that are publicly conducted. |
| (2) | Where any act under paragraph (1) is conducted for reporting the progress of arts, academia, research, theory, current affairs, or history, or for any other similar purpose, no punishment shall be imposed. |
[This Article Newly Inserted on Jan. 5, 2021]
ADDENDA <Act No. 5029, Dec. 21, 1995>
| (1) | (Enforcement Date) This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation. |
| (2) | (Transitional Measures) The request for reopening of procedures under the latter part of Article 3 shall be filed within 30 days from the enforcement date of this Act. |
ADDENDUM <Act No. 10182, Mar. 24, 2010>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.
ADDENDA <Act No. 13722, Jan. 6, 2016>
Article 1 (Enforcement Date)
This Act shall enter into force one year and six months after the date of its promulgation. (Proviso Omitted.)
Articles 2 through 10 Omitted.
ADDENDUM <Act No. 17823, Jan. 5, 2021>
This Act shall enter into force on the date of its promulgation.