[Breaking News] Not Guilty Verdict in Appeal for "May 18 was a Riot" Claims

The first instance court viewed the remarks as the dissemination of false information. On the other hand, the appellate court ruled that since the law limits punishable acts to "the act of disseminating false facts," disagreements regarding negative evaluations or historical significance cannot be punished.
The court explained that "the word 'riot' is a polysemous expression subject to various interpretations regarding its concept and scope," and that Mr. Kim used it as a means to emphasize his subjective opinion.
The court added that while there is room for criticism of such opinions, "the correction of such expressions should take place through historical reflection and in the arena of public discourse."

Justice has been served.
As expected, the judiciary remains the bastion of democracy in the Republic of Korea.