On May 18, 1980, the people of Gwangju, South Korea came together for reunification and an end to an era of martial law imposed by U.S.-backed military dictators. Over the course of ten days, they staged mass protests, battled riot police and soldiers, and were met with brutal repression. Together, they successfully drove the military out Gwangju and governed the city together. Their actions changed the course of Korean history.
On today’s Making Contact, we hear from survivors of the Gwangju Uprising about how they took on the tasks of history and the lessons they carry.
Featuring:
Lee Yoon Jung, President of the May Women’s Association
Ahn Sung Rye, Nurse Supervisor at Gwangju Gidok Hospital during the Gwangju Uprising
For more information:
Gwangju Diary: Beyond Death, Beyond the Darkness of Age by Lee Jae Eui http://eng.518.org/sub.
March of The Beloved, Zoom In Korea http://www.zoominkorea.
May 18 Gwangju Peoples Uprising, Korean Resource Center of Los Angeles http://krcla.org/en/
A Taxi Driver https://www.youtube.
Stirrings of Resistance https://www.
The Legacy of the Gwangju Uprising https://www.youtube.
May 18 Memorial Foundation http://eng.518.org/
Music Credits:
+rain – Jio Im
우리의 소원은 통일 (Our Wish is Reunification) for Piano based on B.W. Ahn – Young Jo Lee
What Were We Holding Onto – Jio Im
March of the Beloved for News Tapa – Yojo and Ruben
July – Jio Im
1983 Song for News Tapa – Sulpa
Photo Credit:
May 18 Memorial Foundation