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As South Koreans Reexamine a 1980 Massacre, Some Ask US to Do the Same

William Gallo

   GWANGJU, SOUTH KOREA - It was the most notorious moment in South
   Korea's turbulent path to democracy:theMay 1980 military crackdown on a
   student-led protest in the southwestern city of Gwangju.

   The Gwangju Uprising, as it would later become known, began as a
   demonstration against South Korea's brutal military leaders, who had
   recently expanded martial law.

   Shortly after the protest began, elite paratroopers attacked the
   students with batons, rifles and bayonets. But as the crackdown
   escalated, so did the citizens' resistance. Eventually Gwangju erupted
   into open rebellion, with residents raiding a local armory, seizing
   weapons and driving the military out of the city. A few days later, the
   military returned, crushing the civilian militia.

   The Gwangju violence marked a pivotal moment in South Korean history.
   Not only did it rekindle a nationwide pro-democracy movement, the
   violence also unleashed a wave of anger at the United States, which had
   long backed the country's military rulersas a way tocounterNorth Korea.

   Though May 18, the day the protest began, is now celebrated as an
   unofficialMemorial Dayin South Korea, the incident is still a major
   source of polarization. Far-right conservatives continue to insist,
   without providing evidence, that North Korea was behind the protests,
   which they characterize as riots.

   But amid a leftward shift in South Korea's political landscape, the
   country is making a fresh effort to find a common narrative about
   Gwangju.

   Uncovering hidden truths

   Newly empowered after a landslide legislative election win last month,
   the left-leaning government of President Moon Jae-in has prioritized
   the Gwangju issue, especially during this month's 40th anniversary of
   the movement.

   Standing in front of the former provincial government building in
   downtown Gwangju where the 1980 civilian militia made its final stand,
   Moon earlier this month promised full support for a new, independent
   fact-finding committeetolookintothe crackdown.

   Many details about the incident remain unknown, including the death
   toll (the official count at the time was around 200, but independent
   groups say the actual number is much higher), as well as who ordered
   the use of helicopters that eyewitnesses say fired on civilians.

   Moon is also pushing to recognize the "May 18 Democratization Movement"
   in the preamble of South Korea's constitution, formally enshrining it
   as part of South Korea's long fight for democracy.

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