‘삼청교육대 발포사건’ 지휘관 첫 증언…“가해자가 피해자 코스프레” 비판도

On August 20, 1981, 7578 South Korean civilians were subjected to military training under the '삼청교육대 발포사건'. Among them, 30 to 40 people lost their lives. A former military officer, 72-year-old Kim Dong-chul, testified in a press conference on the 20th regarding the incident. He stated that he was a platoon commander of the 3rd Battalion, 36th Regiment, 5th Division, and was involved in responding to the protestors.

The incident began when the protestors were dispersed using smoke grenades, leading to a confrontation and the opening of fire. Kim claimed that he had not participated in the violence against the protestors and was not among the three officers who were accused of assaulting the protestors. However, he acknowledged that he had been ordered to fire by his superiors and had willingly complied. The incident has sparked controversy regarding the truth and the role of those involved.