In the 1980 revolt, thousands of Gwangju citizens rose up against the military junta of the time, led by Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, who seized power in an internal coup, following the assassination of his mentor, President Park Chung-hee, eight months earlier.

The junta sent tank-led paratroopers to ruthlessly crack down on the nine-day revolt.

Chun, 87, was sued for allegedly defaming Gwangju citizens with his memoir published last year in which he claimed that North Korean troops were involved in the uprising, that he was not involved in the crackdown, and that the movement was quelled without the use of violence, including firing from helicopters.

Chun insisted in the book that the witnesses who say they saw helicopters shooting protesters have faked the photos capturing the scenes, calling a late pastor who had testified about the choppers firing "Satan wearing a mask."

Prosecution officials said the helicopter attack has been confirmed through "objective data," citing confidential documents held by the US Embassy in South Korea that state the shooting did take place after the military sounded warnings to the protesters.

Prosecutors have indicted Chun on defamation charges. (Yonhap)