As Geunnam-ro, a historic street in Gwangju symbolizing South Korea’s democracy movement, filled with rival protesters Saturday -- one side supporting and the other opposing suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol -- two star history lecturers took the podium, each offering contrasting views on the current state of South Korean politics.
They were Hwang Hyun-pil for the anti-Yoon faction and Jeon Han-hil for the pro-Yoon side.
While clashing over the incumbent leader who faces impeachment over his Dec. 3 declaration of martial law, both speakers shared the recognition of the symbolic significance of the protest venue where the Gwangju Democratic Uprising took place in May 1980. On Saturday, about 20,000 people participated in the two demonstrations.
Hwang, a former high school teacher who leads online history lectures for test preppers, recalled his childhood memories of the 1980s as he criticized the opposing gathering supporting Yoon.
“In May 1980, when I was eight, I saw parents hammering at windows in fear that bullets might come inside. I saw soldiers driving tanks in,” the Gwangju native said at the podium.
“There is a saying that South Korea’s democracy grew by feeding on the blood of Gwangju,” he continued. “I feel disturbed that supporters of an insurrection are holding a rally in this place where that blood was spilled.”
Hwang compared past authoritarian leaders to the current administration.
“Syngman Rhee (South Korea’s first president) massacred the largest number of civilians in our history under martial law, and Chun Doo-hwan ruthlessly slaughtered Gwangju citizens through martial law,” he said, the latter referring to the 1980 Gwangju massacre. “Yoon Suk Yeol imposed martial law in an advanced country, not even during wartime. This is for his own dictatorship.”
At the other rally, Jeon, another star history instructor, spoke for Yoon’s reinstatement as president. He argued that rejecting a democratically elected president undermines free democracy.
“Not recognizing a president elected by the people is a challenge to democracy and an anti-state act,” he said.
Jeon, who hails from the conservative stronghold of the Gyeongsang provinces, emphasized his respect for Gwangju’s role in shaping South Korea’s democracy.
“South Korea was able to achieve democracy in 40 years thanks to DJ (former President Kim Dae-jung), YS (former President Kim Young-sam) and the sacrifice of Gwangju citizens,” he said.
He claimed the conservative President Yoon’s actions on Dec. 3 were lawful and Yoon should be immediately reinstated. Yoon, suspended from duties, is undergoing an impeachment trial at the Constitutional Court, while a criminal trial for an insurrection charge is to commence in the coming days.
“President Yoon imposing martial law on Dec. 3 was an ‘enlightenment ordinance.’ The major opposition party (Democratic Party of Korea) continued its anti-state acts by impeaching 29 individuals, and President Yoon is now detained on false charges,” he said.
Jeon urged unity to protect South Korea’s democracy and Yoon, who was elected by the people, from the tyranny of the Democratic Party.
Geumnam-ro served as the main gathering site for the largest protests during the Gwangju Democratic Uprising, which opposed the martial law imposed by military dictator Chun Doo-hwan. The violent crackdown on protesters resulted in hundreds of casualties.
shinjh@heraldcorp.com
