Comparison of downtown Seoul today and on June 10, 1979. The Korea Times.
The Gwangju Uprising Today
"It [Gwangju Uprising] is a symbol of an important democracy. It should not be forgotten that democratization of Korea was based on the blood of so many people."
-Jurgen Hinzpeter, German Correspondent
-Jurgen Hinzpeter, German Correspondent
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In 1996, justice was granted when Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were indicted for their role in the Gwangju Uprising.
"I will carry all the distrust and conflict. I will accept any form of punishment." |
Left: Roh Tae-woo, right: Chun Doo-hwan, Aug 26, 1996. Korea Times
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Today, South Korea is the 5th country with the most voter turnout at 77% of registered voters.
Countries Voter Turnout. Pew Research Center.
In 2017, Koreans peacefully protested to support the impeachment of Park Geun-Hye and to hold her accountable for charges of abuse of power.
"...South Korea’s young democracy has evolved, Ms. Park was removed without any violence, after large, peaceful protests...this...a new milestone in the strengthening and institutionalizing of democracy in South Korea.” |
"Her removal means that the curtain is finally drawing on the authoritarian political and economic order that has dominated South Korea for decades” |
Tragedies & Triumphs
The deaths and TRAGEDIES of the Gwangju Uprising TRIUMPHANTLY led to the creation of direct elections during the June Struggle, allowing democracy to thrive in South Korea today.
"He said that if one dies in order to shed a single ray of light on this hopeless, dark, dismal place, then after seeing this, if the workers and students together fight to the death in order to live, then that light will get bigger." |
Voting for the first time in decades. © Kim Newton All Rights Reserved, South Korean Democracy Movement 1987.
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In our society, public demonstrations have been a representation of the change people desire. The Gwangju Uprising allowed voices to be heard when others were silenced, light to be shined on the dark, and triumphs to come from tragedies.
