#and the crackdown on student protesters by US university admins

[mental-about-you-too]

Received my first piece of formulaic hate mail! Feels like a rite of passage. Hot take: genocide is ALWAYS wrong!

Seriously, though: I know it’s my privilege that allows me to make light of this. If you're getting harassed for speaking out, you're not alone. Stay safe out there. I love you. Free Palestine.

[jojal-jojalkorean]

🇰🇷 May 18th Democratization Movement(5.18) 🇰🇷

Collapse of the Republic of Tyranny: murder of President Park Chung-hee (October 26, 1979)

The military government of Park Chung-hee that appeared in 1961 by suppressing the wishes of April 19 Democratic Revolution proclaimed the Yushin constitution (1972) to scheme permanent 1-person dictatorship. Democratization movements which continued under the violent suppression of the Park Chung-hee government led to 'Buma Uprising' on October 16, 1979. The dictatorial government confronted a difficulty and collapsed. On October 26, President Park Chung-hee was murdered by the Director of Central Intelligence Agency, Kim Jae-gyu at the banquet hall of Gungjeongdong safety house. This incident resulted in declaration of martial law around the entire nation except for Jeju Province. National emergency martial law was declared.

Awakening of 1980: desire for democratization (March ~ May, 1980)

Most of citizens anticipated to finally see democratization with the end of Park Chung-hee's dictatorship. Full of great expectations, people referred to early 1980 as "Realized Dream of Seoul" and "Realized dream of democratization with the fall of the Republic of Tyranny".

University students who stepped outside universities

Democratization movements of university students started out as student council revival movement in November 1979. After pro-democracy fight, it has developed into political struggle to demand withdrawal of martial law and resignation of the remnants of Yushin. Starting with the student council of Seoul National University in March 1980, major universities around the nation established student councils in April. April was the time of pro-democracy fight.

Expansion of emergency martial law on May 17

On May 17, the new military group hauled in 95 student representatives from 55 universities around the nation during the meeting of National Group of University Student Body Presidents, and the emergency martial law was expanded nationwide as of midnight of May 17, 1980. Martial law army was stationed at the National Assembly, government institutions, universities, press companies and broadcasting stations. The martial law command issued suspension on political activities and commanded closure of universities. It issues "Decree No. 10" prohibiting indoor and outdoor assembly and demonstration, and conducting pre-censorship on press, publication and broadcast. Expansion of martial law by the new military group was an unlawful act which betrayed the expectations and demands of citizens about democratization and suppressed politicians outside the government and figures related to democratization movements by regarding them as the central force of protest.

Input of martial law army

As the extraordinary Cabinet meeting passed the bill on proclamation of expansion on emergency martial law at 21:40 on May 17, 1980, the new military group sent its army to large cities such as Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju. 1st, 3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th and 13th Airborne Brigades were stationed in Seoul, and 33rd Batallion and 35th Batallion of 7th Airborne Brigade were stationed at Chonnam National University and Chosun University of Gwangju to suppress the democratization force.

May 18, 1980

At around 10 o'clock on May 18, the martial law army blocked the way of students at the front gate of Chonnam National University. As students fiercely complained, the martial law army started to commit brutal violence on students and even using abusive language and violence on citizens who tried to stop them.

University students in Gwangju headed to downtown area and formed a scrummage to yell out slogans like "Withdraw the emergency martial law" and "Away with Chun Doo-hwan". The martial law army employed indiscriminate violence on the democratization rally of students. They chased after students and youths, even entering private houses to drag young men out, beat them, undress them, and haul them in.

The government's excessive crackdown eventually led to a huge demonstration attended by 200,000 citizens. The government deployed some 25,000 troops to indiscriminate violence and bombing of protesters, and citizens also resisted armed resistance. More than a thousand people were killed and wounded by May 27, including soldiers and civilians.

참조 및 출처 :

오픈 아카이브

5.18 민주화운동 기록관

-Written by Admin Do

-Edited by Admin Yu