The May 18 Movement organizations – bereaved families, injured persons, and meritorious persons associations – alongside the May 18 Memorial Foundation in Gwangju, South Korea, are seeking a final ruling from the Supreme Court following an appeals court acquittal regarding the use of the term “폭동” (riot) to describe the May 18 Democratic Uprising. The initial legal challenge centered on whether labeling the pro-democracy movement as a “riot” constitutes defamation. The groups argue that characterizing the event in such a manner distorts historical truth and disrespects the sacrifices made during the Gwangju Uprising. This acquittal by the appeals court has prompted the organizations to push for a definitive decision from the highest court. They believe a Supreme Court judgment is necessary to prevent further misrepresentation of this significant event in South Korean history. The outcome will have implications for historical discourse surrounding the May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju.