Healing scars of Gwangju
Many Koreans moved by president’s speech on 1980 uprising
The ceremony to mark the 37th anniversary of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement was unlike previous ones held during the rule of two conservative leaders.
For the first time in four years, the president joined the commemorative event where a record number of people took part. The symbolic song “March for the Beloved” was sung by all participants for the first time in nine years, following the president’s order.
It is noteworthy that President Moon Jae-in did much more than just show up and give a perfunctory speech like former President Park Geun-hye did in 2013, which was the only year she participated in the event. During his speech, Moon called the Gwangju Uprising “one of the saddest and most painful moments in Korea’s contemporary history.” As a former pro-democracy activist and human rights lawyer, Moon moved many people by highlighting the special meaning of the movement and the importance of bringing those responsible to justice. Many were also moved when he hugged a woman who gave a speech to pay tribute to her father who died in the uprising.
The most poignant moment of Moon’s speech was when he said “a new Korea is a country where people take care of and console each other.” This remark reassured many Koreans about the kind of country he will try to build for the next five years.
The Gwangju Uprising is acknowledged globally for laying the foundation for Korea’s democracy by protesting the military rule of Chun Doo-hwan. But in Korea, many remain divided about how to interpret the uprising. The citizens of the southwestern city are still scarred by widespread false accusations against it. “There are some people who still attempt to disparage the May 18 uprising. This is unacceptable,” Moon said. “Such attempts distort history and deny democracy.”
Some conservatives have labeled it a riot by communist sympathizers. Others claim Gwangju citizens fired first or that North Korea instigated it. Chun triggered public rage with his recent memoir where he distanced himself from the massacre, saying he had nothing to do with it and calling himself and his wife “victims” of the uprising. He denied all allegations he had ordered attacks on citizens, but it is fact that many protesters and citizens were killed by government-commanded troops.
During the speech, Moon vowed to uncover the truth behind the May 18 movement. Such fact-finding efforts are necessary to put an end to the wrongful accusations once and for all. There have been new allegations about attacks, such as soldiers shooting from helicopters. Like the president said, clarifying the truth is not a matter of ideological dispute. It is about upholding justice.