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Panel Says Late Ex-President Chun Called Recommendation for Crackdown on Gwangju Uprising ‘Good Idea’

Panel Says Late Ex-President Chun Called Recommendation for Crackdown on Gwangju Uprising ‘Good Idea’

SEOUL, Dec. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — Late former President Chun Doo-hwan described a military document recommending a crackdown on the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju as a “good idea,” a fact-finding panel said Monday. Marking the second anniversary of its launch, the May 18 Democratization Movement Truth Commission released interim results [...]

Int’l Award Created to Honor German Reporter’s Coverage of Gwangju Uprising

Int’l Award Created to Honor German Reporter’s Coverage of Gwangju Uprising

GWANGJU, May 13 (Korea Bizwire) — A new international video press award has been created in honor of late German journalist Jurgen Hinzpeter, the first western reporter to send out footage of the bloody crackdown on the Gwangju people’s pro-democracy uprising of May 1980, its organizers said Thursday. The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the [...]

‘Spring of Democracy’ Exhibition Highlights Records, Emotions of Gwangju Uprising

‘Spring of Democracy’ Exhibition Highlights Records, Emotions of Gwangju Uprising

SEOUL, May 28 (Korea Bizwire) — To this day, the Gwangju Democratization Movement of May 18, 1980, against the then-brutal military dictatorship invokes in the hearts of many South Koreans emotions of horror and deep sorrow, as well as a profound respect toward hope for democracy. The movement, which ended with hundreds of people killed [...]

Cabbie Who Drove German Reporter During 1980 Pro-democratic Uprising to be Buried in Gwangju

Cabbie Who Drove German Reporter During 1980 Pro-democratic Uprising to be Buried in Gwangju

GWANGJU, Dec. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — A late taxi driver, well known for taking German journalist Jurgen Hinzpeter to the center of a pro-democracy uprising in the southwestern city of Gwangju decades ago, will be buried next to the reporter’s monument at a cemetery in the city, the municipal government said Monday. The driver, Kim [...]

Prime Minister Warns of ‘Judgment of Truth’ for Those Distorting 1980 Democracy Uprising

Prime Minister Warns of ‘Judgment of Truth’ for Those Distorting 1980 Democracy Uprising

SEOUL, May 18 (Korea Bizwire) — Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said Friday that those distorting what happened during the bloody crackdown on a 1980 pro-democracy uprising will face the “judgment of truth,” apparently referring to former President Chun Doo-hwan. During a ceremony to commemorate the May 18 democracy movement in the southwestern city of Gwangju, [...]

Military’s ‘Helicopter Shooting’ During Gwangju Uprising Confirmed: Probe Panel

Military’s ‘Helicopter Shooting’ During Gwangju Uprising Confirmed: Probe Panel

SEOUL, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s military launched helicopter gunship attacks on civilians protesting against the junta of Chun Doo-hwan in 1980, a crime against humanity tantamount to a massacre, a government committee said Wednesday. During the Gwangju uprising, known as the Gwangju Democratization Movement, the Army fired shots toward citizens from 500MD [...]