May 18th Democratic Uprising against Military Regime

The extension of martial law on May 17, 1980 by the military forces who had seized power was answered by a large public rally in Gwangju where students and citizens demanded its abolition and the release of Kim Daejung. The peaceful civil demonstration was mercilessly crushed by military troops. This movement where the citizens of Gwangju confronted the drawn weapons of the military government was the start of the democracy movement of the 1980s.

On May 18th, 1980 the people of Gwangju passionately protested against the nationwide imposition of martial law. The new military government responsible for the coup dispatched special force paratroopers to Gwangju in order to suppress a peaceful protest led by university students and citizens.
The Gwangju massacre had a profound impact on South Korean politics and history. Chun Doohwan suffered popularity problems because he took power through a military coup, but after authorizing the dispatch of Special Forces upon citizens, his legitimacy was significantly damaged. The movement also paved the way for later movements in the 1980s that eventually brought democracy to South Korea. The Gwangju massacre has become a symbol of South Koreans' struggle against authoritarian regimes and their fight for democracy.

There is no universally accepted death toll for the 1980 Gwangju Uprising. Official figures released by the Martial Law Command put the death toll at 191 civilians, 23 troops and 4 police killed, with 852 civilians, 109 troops and 144 police wounded.

The May 18th Democratic Uprising not only played a pivotal role in the democratization of South Korea but also affected other countries in East Asia by dissolving the Cold War structure and achieving democracy. The documentary items related to the Uprising, which took place in Gwangju, Korea between 18 and 27 May 1980, take the form of documents, photos, images, etc. relating to the citizens' rebellion, punishment of the perpetrators, and compensation.