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Human Rights Documentary
Heritage, 1980 – Archives for the
May 18th democratic uprising against
military regime, in Gwangju, Republic
of Korea
Inscribed 2011
What is it
The documentary items related to the uprising, which
took place in Gwangju, Republic of Korea between 18 and
27 May 1980, take the form of documents, publications
and photographs, relating to the citizens’ rebellion, the
punishment of the perpetrators and compensation.
Why was it inscribed
The 18 May Democratic Uprising is widely considered as
a turning point for democracy and human rights in the
Republic of Korea, but it also affected other countries in
East Asia, helping to dismantle Cold War structures.
Where is it
518 Archive of Gwangju City Hall, Archive of May 18
Memorial Foundation, and May 18th Research Center
of Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic
of Korea
Since 1961, the Republic of Korea (commonly referred to
as South Korea) had been ruled by President Bak Jeonghui
(Park Chung-hee) who came to power in a military coup.
He was assassinated on 26 October 1979 by Kim Jae-gyu, a
close colleague and director of the feared Korean Central
Intelligence Agency. It was thought that Kim saw Bak as
an obstacle to a return to democracy and there was some
hope that the assassination might bring democracy closer.
However, within weeks, military officers led by General Jeon
Duwhan (Chun Doo-hwan took power through a military
coup. In the following May students and trade unionists
took to the streets in protest throughout the country. On
17 May the government declared martial law and sent special
forces troops to the southern industrial city of Gwangju,
The suppression of the 1980 Gwangju Uprising led to more calls for
the reinstatement of democracy in South Korea. This demonstration
in Gwangju in 1987 helped towards the collapse of the military
regime that had ordered the troops into Gwangju in 1980. �
546 Human rights documentary heritage, 1980
where, on the following day, 18 May, students and concerned
citizens took to the streets and confronted the soldiers.
The resulting violence meted out on the people of Gwangju
by the soldiers greatly increased the tension in the city
and many more people joined the demonstrations. On
21 May the soldiers opened fire on demonstrators, killing
or injuring hundreds. The mass of citizens of Gwangju,
some now armed, provided overwhelming resistance to