Bu-Ma Democratic Protests
| Bu-Ma Democratic Protest | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date | 16–20 October 1979 | ||
| Location | Busan, Masan, South Korea | ||
| Causes | Yushin dictatorship of Park Chung-hee | ||
| Goals | Democratization | ||
| Methods | Protest | ||
| Result | Several civilian and military casualties | ||
| Parties to the civil conflict | |||
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The Bu-Ma Democratic Protests (Hangul: 부마민주항쟁; hanja: 釜馬民主抗爭; RR: Buma Minju Hangjaeng; or Hangul: 부마민중항쟁; hanja: 釜馬民衆抗爭; RR: Buma Minjung Hangjaeng) against the Yushin regime (유신정권), took place between 16 and 20 October 1979 in Busan and Masan (now Changwon), South Korea). On 16 October, students from Busan University began demonstrations calling for the abolition of the Yushin regime. On 17 October the protests grew to include citizens and spread to Masan on 18 and 19 October.[1]
Yushin regime President Park Chung-hee declared martial law on 18 October and referred 66 people to military court.[2] On 20 October, Park invoked the Garrison Act. The army was mobilized, and 59 civilians were brought to military court.
Background
The Republic of Korea's National Assembly 1978 election was held in December and was seriously influenced by the government (see also People's Revolutionary Party Incident). Nevertheless, the ruling Republican Party was defeated by the opposition New Democratic Party. Due to pro-democracy movements becoming more active, the arresting, imprisonment and suppression has become stronger towards pro-democracy figures.
In August 1978, female workers of the YH Trading Company (YH무역주식회사) performed a lock-in at the headquarters of the New Democratic Party. Because of the lock-in, the ruling Republican Party expelled Kim Young-sam,[3] representative of New Democratic Party, from their ranks in the National Assembly. It led to the resignation of all opposition party members from the National Assembly.
In September 1978, pro-democracy protests began to grow, thanks to the arrival of university students from across the country. Meanwhile, resistance to the expulsion and imprisonment of Kim Young-sam also had a view that affected the protests.[4]
Before I arrive Bu-Ma, I thought this demo was played a key role by Namminjeon (남조선민족해방전선준비위원회; 南朝鮮民族解放戰線準備委員會) or students, but it wasn't on the ground. We arrested 160 people, only 16 was students, the others are regular citizens. Also by watching demonstration aspect, people who participate in demonstrations and people who support them by providing food, drinks and harbour them from police are fully understand one another. Protesters slogan was 'Opposition to the system', 'Opposition to a tax', 'Mistrust of the government'. Those slogan affected to burn 11 police station, to destroy about 10 police vehicle.— Kim Jae-gye, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency Conclusions after inspecting on the ground, [5]
Progress
The protests history is as follows:[6]
- 3 May 1979 - A national convention of New Democratic Party occurred, the moderate party representative Yi Cheol-seung defected, Kim Young-sam was elected.
- 11 August 1979 - YH case occurred.
- 4 October 1979 - The ruling Republicans expelled Kim Young-sam, representative of New Democratic Party, from the National Assembly.
- 16 October 1979 - Bu-Ma Democratic Protests occurred. 5000 Busan University student protesters shout slogans "Dispose Yushin regime", "Stop political oppression" on campus. They advanced downtown in the evening.
- 17 October 1979 - Many civilians joined the protest as it continued to spread. Chungmu police substation, the Korea Broadcasting System, Seo-gu Office and the Busan tax office were destroyed. Police vehicles were burned or damaged.
- 18 October 1979 - The government proclaimed martial law in Busan at 12:00 am. The military arrested 1,058 people, 66 of who went on to face trial.
- 19 October 1979 - Kyungnam University students protested at Masan University. The Democratic-Republican Party building, a police substation, and a broadcasting station were damaged.
- 20 October 1979 - Laborers and high school students joined the protest. Governments invoke the Garrison Act at Masan.
- 26 October 1979 - President Park Chung-hee was assassinated (10.26 incident)
Influence
This incident incited conflict inside the government, which led in turn to an early ending of the Yushin regime that was maintained by an emergency measure. The protest influenced the Gwangju Uprising and the June Democracy Movement.[7]
Aftermath
In Busan, Democracy Park was built in 1999, and a monument was erected to honor the participants of the protests.[8]
On 13 October 2014, a committee to ascertain the truth about the protests was established.[9][10]
18 May 2015 - Laws to appoint the members of the committee were passed.[11] It was criticized because of unfairness in the selection process for committee members, as well as their action plan.[12]
13 December 2015 - A map of protests and daily report of the Bu-ma Democratic Protests was disclosed to the public by Bu-Ma Democratic Protests Memorial Association, (Hangul: 부마민주항쟁기념사업회; hanja: 釜馬民主抗爭祈念事業會) as well as the 18 May Memorial Foundation.[13]
See also
- People's Revolutionary Party Incident
- Gwangju Uprising
- June Democratic Uprising
- Kim Young-sam
- October Yushin
References
- ↑ "부마민주항쟁이란?(What is Bu-Ma Democratic Protests?)". 부마민주항쟁 진상규명 및 관련자 명예회복 심의위원회 (Bu-Ma Democratic Protests truth ascertainment · compensation committee) (in Korean). Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ↑ Yi, Pyŏng-chʻŏn (2006). Developmental Dictatorship and the Park Chung-hee Era: The Shaping of Modernity in the Republic of Korea. Homa & Sekey Books. p. 236. ISBN 9781931907286. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ↑ "의원직 제명당한 김영삼(Kim Young-sam issue of the remarks expulsion on a parliamentary seat in detention)". 연합뉴스 (Yeonhap News). 22 November 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ↑ Se-young(세영), Lee(이) (22 November 2015). "YS를 기억할 수 있는 ‘6가지 장면’('6 Scene' to remember YS(Kim Young-sam)". The Hankyoreh. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
- ↑ Kang Joon-Man (강준만), 《한국현대사산책》 1970년대편 3권, 258-259쪽
- ↑ "(Bu-Ma Democratic Protests) 부마민주항쟁 [釜馬民主抗爭]". Doopedia. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ↑ "[역사이야기] 단 한번도 왕의 목을 치지 못한…". Han Hong-gu (한홍구), 《단 한번도 왕의 목을 치지 못한…》. 14 February 2001. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
- ↑ "부산 민주공원 (Busan Democraic Park)". www.demopark.or.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ↑ Jung-hun(정훈), Lee(이) (13 October 2014). "부마항쟁 진상규명·보상위원회 공식 출범(Bu-Ma Democratic Protests truth ascertainment · compensation committee has been officially established)". news.naver.com (in Korean). Yonhap. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
- ↑ "부마민주항쟁 진상 규명 및 관련자명예회복심의위원회 (Bu-Ma Democratic Protests truth ascertainment · compensation committee)". www.buma.go.kr. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
- ↑ "부마민주항쟁 관련자의 명예회복 및 보상 등에 관한 법률". Ministry of the Interior(행정자치부). 18 May 2015.
- ↑ Kun-ho (근호), Cha(차) (11 December 2014). "부마항쟁진상규명위-관련단체 첫 간담회, 질타 쏟아져". yonhapnews.co.kr. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
- ↑ Kyung-min (경민), Ha(하) (13 December 2015). "부마민주항쟁 항쟁도·일지 공개:: 공감언론 뉴시스통신사 ::(Map of protests and daily report for Bu-ma Democratic Protests will be disclosed to the public)". www.newsis.com. Retrieved 13 December 2015.