A committee tasked with shedding light on the May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju has requested that former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo participate in face-to-face questioning.

The committee said Thursday that it sent out requests to five people, including the two former presidents, who were key figures in the military junta that brutally cracked down on protesters in Gwangju in 1980. 

The committee said though there was a trial and investigation by prosecutors in the 90s, major questions have yet to be answered, including who gave the order to open fire on protesters. The committee also cited that key figures of the military junta had denied any wrongdoing and kept mum on the allegations against them. 

The committee said it will request a warrant for the five figures, who are all of advanced age and refused to participate in the committee’s investigations. 

The committee plans to question a total of 35 figures in the military junta, starting with the five senior officials.