한국 민주주의의 상징, 5.18 민주화운동<br /><br />May 18, 1980.<br />Citizens of Gwangju protested against the authoritarian government led by Chun Doo-hwan,... who took power through a military coup and enforced martial law throughout the country.<br />KIM Da-mi tells us more about the historic pro-democracy movement.<br />Thirty-nine years ago,... in Gwangju city, around 165 people were killed and thousands more wounded by government troops sent to quell a democratic movement against the authoritarian regime. The exact number of casualties is still unknown. <br />Known as Gwangju Pro-democracy Movement, citizens and university students in Gwangju protested against the military government led by then-President Chun Doo-hwan,...who grabbed power in a coup after the assassination of President Park Chung-hee in 1979. <br />In response to the civilians’ protests known as Gwangju Pro-Democracy Movement, the military government deployed special forces to suppress civilians and employed brutal force, including the use of helicopter gunships,... leaving hundreds dead and thousands more wounded. <br />The former president maintained a repressive regime for 7 more years until 1987 when mass protests forced him to step down. <br />Although the movement was brutally suppressed, it became the driving force for the June democracy movement of 1987,... and is now considered to have been a pivotal moment in shaping democracy in South Korea.<br />Commemorated for its role in Korea’s democracy movement, the May 18th Pro-Democracy Movement has been designated as an official memorial day since 1997. <br />KIM Da-mi, Arirang News. <br />
