Book Report on The May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising

Book title: The May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising
Published: The May 18th History Compitation Committee of Gwangu City
Translator: Lee Kyung-soon, Ellen Bishop

This book “The May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising” is a non-fiction and historical book about the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising in South Korea. This book have five main chapters. First, The character of the May 18th Gwangju Democratic Uprising, It showed the reason of the uprising and other relevant matters after the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

Second, The last of the Yushin system and the insurgent troops on December 12, 1979, it reported the political background and the Yushin revolution, Yushin System was a typical military dictatorship, Most of the citizens were unhappy this period. Martial law was declared throughout the country after the October 26 incident when the Chief of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency associated Park Churg-hee.

Third, The retreat of democratization. President Choi resigned and Mr. Chun Doo-hwan became the new President. On his new lead, he had adopted 3 measures to disempower the Choi Cabinet. It was a usurpation of political power, it was not democratic, so most of people were unsatisfied. Especially, students all over South Korea, Which gave rise to the student movement.
They had a meeting with the representatives from 23 universities and presidents of the students councils and agreed to stage peaceful demonstrations only on their campus. To me, the students were the main pillar of democratization, they had prepared and appealed to all people to stand up against dictatorship. Anywise, rumor had spread of government attempt to restore the old regime, so campaign for school democratization on campus became a political movement for democratization of the nation, more than 50,000 people participated in the street campaign in “the national democratization rally” on 17th May, at the same day new military power had been preparing for the horrible scene of the day after.

Fourth, The May 18th Gwangju Democratic Uprising. This chapter showed the day’s quelling the campaign, the beginning of the tragedy, the battle of army, the situation on the 19th of May and the day after until 27 May, the birth of the citizens’ army and the withdrawal of paratroopers.

Fifth, The meaning of the May 18th Gwangju Democratic Uprising, revival of the Gwangju democratic Uprising and meaning.After reading the book, I can imagine the situation during the uprising and its cause. I have my sympathy for the citizens under the dictatorial regime, I felt so sad to see how the military leaders suppress the citizens during the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, it was merciless and brutal enough to be branded as a massacre, Their cruel actions were irrespective of age or sex, all of these were violation of human rights.

In this book the authors main purpose was to show the activities and characters of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising, especially the author portrayed a very bad regime as contrasted with the noble deed of the Gwangju citizens who vigorously struggled to gain back democracy.

I am so grateful to the students and youth of Korea, especially the student of Chonnam University who are so brave as well as the rest of the Gwangju citizens who died during The May 18 Democratic Uprising. They started the democratization movement and general consciousness raising. Chonnam student held a general election for the General Student Council that became the leader of the democratization movement. Otherwise the students’ movement was the most fundamental power for democracy, they would be in the first row and the head of campaign and demonstration against military forces. They were responsible also in appealing for people participation with other students, citizens, and professors to participate.

In conclusion, the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising was not a disgrace but an honor, and full of glory. In my opinion, we should keep and point out to all students and people that it was a very important part of history, although they may not have won the battle, but they have shown a great commitment and solidarity for their struggle to bring democracy to South Korea. They did not do it only for their self or family but they did it for our generation and the next generation.