[Politics, That Day...] Kim Young-sam: "Today's Government Is an Extension of the Gwangju Democratization Movement"

May 13, 1993 Presidential Special Address, Significance of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement
President from Minjadang, Setting History Right... Criticism for Lukewarm Punishment of Those Responsible

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Politics, On That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to scenes, events, and figures that deserve attention.

At the memorial ceremony for the 3rd anniversary of former President Kim Young-sam's passing held at the Seoul National Cemetery Memorial Hall, Kim Hyun-chul, the second son of former President Kim, is offering condolences on behalf of the bereaved family. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

"I clearly state that today's government is a democratic government standing on the continuation of the Gwangju Democratization Movement."

Kim Young-sam (YS), then president, declared this in a special statement on May 13, 1993. This was a message delivered in the first year of office by a president from the Democratic Liberal Party (DLP), the mainstream conservative party in Korea.

President Kim was a prominent politician who led the anti-dictatorship struggle to revive the flame of democracy in Korean society. Ahead of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement anniversary, he delivered a meaningful message. President Kim evaluated, "The bloodshed in Gwangju in May 1980 became the foundation of democracy in this country."

YS’s special statement marked a turning point in modern history. The DLP was a party formed in 1990 through the merger of the Democratic Justice Party (DJP), YS’s Reunification Democratic Party, and politician Kim Jong-pil (JP)’s New Democratic Republican Party (Republican Party).

It is noteworthy in itself that a sitting president from the DLP defined the government’s identity as a democratic government standing on the continuation of the Gwangju Democratization Movement. This is also related to the social perception (treatment) of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement at that time.

On May 18, 2020, citizens visiting the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are viewing the special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising titled "If That May Day Comes Again." This exhibition, which allows viewers to see records of Gwangju held by the May 18 Memorial Foundation and others for the first time in Seoul, will be open until October 31. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

The May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement anniversary is a national memorial day attended by major state figures. However, even as late as 1992, before YS took office, May in Gwangju was a hidden history. During President Roh Tae-woo’s administration, videos revealing the reality of the Gwangju Democratization Movement (filmed by foreign media, etc.) had to be secretly watched in university campuses and other places.

What happened in Gwangju, who died and how many were injured were subjects that people were not supposed to know or speak about. This was true not only in Gwangju and Jeonnam, where many victims were, but also in Seoul and Busan. Those curious about historical facts were burdened with ideological constraints.

The painful history and concealed time of modern history were brought to public discussion through a special statement by the sitting president in 1993. It was part of the effort to set history right in YS’s first year in office.

YS pledged, "We will do everything necessary, including the joint burial of graves, to cultivate the Mangwol-dong Cemetery as a sacred place of democracy," and "We will provide additional opportunities for reporting by those who have not yet been compensated by law among the deceased, missing, and injured."

Furthermore, YS said, "For those who were detained or imprisoned at the time and later pardoned and reinstated, we will completely erase their criminal records and seek support measures so that their honor can be restored as they devoted themselves to the democratization of this country," and "We will officially lift the wanted notices related to May 18."

On May 18, 2020, citizens visiting the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno-gu, Seoul, are viewing the special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising titled "If That May Day Comes Again." This exhibition, which allows visitors to see records of Gwangju held by the May 18 Memorial Foundation and others for the first time in Seoul, will be open until October 31. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

At the time, YS’s special statement was almost revolutionary but did not fully meet the expectations of the victims of the Gwangju Democratization Movement. A representative issue was the lukewarm attitude toward uncovering the truth of May 18 and punishing those responsible. Due to this critical awareness, the Democratic Party issued a critical commentary on YS’s special statement.

In May 1993, the Democratic Party spokesperson was politician Park Ji-won (current Director of the National Intelligence Service). Spokesperson Park pointed out, "We cannot tolerate the irresponsible stance of leaving even the most important truth investigation to history."

On the other hand, the DLP, which included members from the Democratic Justice Party, issued a positive commentary. At that time, DLP spokesperson Kang Jae-seop stated, "We sympathize with President Kim’s bold and progressive historical consciousness and his solutions."

There are various evaluations of YS’s political achievements and failures, but the May 13, 1993, special statement on May 18 is a political move worth evaluating in itself. Although 28 years have passed since that day, considering the social reality where distorted views of May Gwangju still exist, YS’s special statement in May 1993 is a message that deserves to be reconsidered.