- Title: South Korean dictator's death keeps massacre truths hidden, survivor says
- Date: 25th November 2021
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SURVIVOR OF THE 1980 GWANGJU MASSACRE, KIM YOUNG-MAN, SAYING: "I'm very worried that a lot of truth will be hidden since Chun Doo-hwan's death. However, if those who participated as martial law soldiers at the time confess from their conscience, I think a lot of truth will probably be revealed." KIM LOOKING AT BOOK BOOK PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING 5.18 DEMOCRAC
- Embargoed: 9th December 2021 08:03
- Keywords: Chun Doo-hwan Gwangju uprising Seoul South Korea pro-decocracy rally survivors victims
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Crime/Law/Justice,Crime
- Reuters ID: LVA003F53GVUV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: About 30 people gathered outside of the funeral hall for military dictator Chun Doo-Hwan in Seoul on Thursday (November 25), chanting slogans and holding banners telling him to "go to hell."
Kim Young-man, 57, was among the crowd.
"I'm very worried that a lot of truth will be hidden since Chun Doo-hwan's death," he told Reuters.
Kim still bears a scar on his head from when a police officer struck him with a baton in Gwangju in May 1980 while participating in a pro-democracy uprising. Kim was a high school student at the time. Chun was the de factor leader of the country at the time after leading a military coup.
"It is very regrettable that Chun Doo-hwan, a sinner of history, died without any apology," Kim said.
Hundreds are estimated to have died or gone missing when the South Korean government violently put down the Gwangju uprising.
Years after the massacre, many details remain unconfirmed, including who gave the orders for troops to open fire on protesters. Many victims remain unidentified.
Kim holds out hope that former members of the regime will come forward to shine light on the bloody crackdown, but like many other victims, was disheartened that Chun died without showing significant remorse.
Months after leaving office in 1988 amid growing calls for democracy, Chun offered a formal apology for abuses during his leadership, including Gwangju.
But later he appeared to walk back some of that contrition, prompting victims to doubt the sincerity of that apology as he embraced a defiant and defensive stance to the end. He died on Tuesday (November 23) at the age of 90.
"Chun Doo-hwan was not the type of person to apologise," Kim said. "Yet if he had apologised, I think there would have been a possibility that Gwangju citizens who have been heartbroken for 41 years would feel a little better."
The former arts and culture television television producer said music has helped him heal over the years.
On Wednesday (November 24), a day after Chun's death, a group of 70 Gwangju survivors, including Kim, filed a lawsuit against the government seeking compensation for emotional damage.
Some victims have received compensation for their loss of work, but other claims for compensation for emotional and psychological trauma faced legal barriers until a Supreme Court ruling in September, said an official at the May 18 Memorial Foundation, which works with the families.
(Production: Dogyun Kim, Daewoung Kim, Yeni Seo, Hyunyoung Yi) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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- Usage Terms/Restrictions: WARNING: Editors please note, this clip contains graphic material