Korean Job Discussion Forums

masty · Joined: 26 Feb 2003

I'm on my way to Kwangju this weekend and it is the anniversary of the 1980 massacre. I heard there are annual protests and I was wondering if anybody knew the where and when. Also any suggestions, of where we should stay/eat and what we should do while there, would be appreciated. Thanks.

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

I live in Kwangju, though my knowledge of the actual street names etc is virtually non-existent(and I speak no Korean). Last year, there was a few days of celebration(yes, it was an actual street festival)held on the main street near the downtown, near the government building known as Provincial Hall. Ask someone for directions to the downtown YMCA, and you should be right there(I believe they call it the YMCA in Korean). Right in front of the Provincial Hall is a plaza of some sort called Democracy Square. Also, the Catholic Centre, which played a major role in the uprising, is on the same part of the street. I thnk both the YMCA and the Catholic Centre are known by their English names.
Also, the event last year was quite nationalistic in orientation, f*cking usa and all that, and while I had ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS being accepted into the crowd(they even good-naturedly encouraged me to enter this mock police state prison cell they had set up), it might be a good idea to go along with a Korean friend if you can.
I know there are actual memorial commemerations for the dead, one at a cemetery I believe, but I don't know much about them. Anyway, hope this helps. Enjoy your stay!

weatherman · Joined: 14 Jan 2003 Location: Korea

On the other hand has it all right. Bring a camera and a note book, collect the pamphlets for you are in for a great history lesson. Current fashion in thinking amoung the students who put on this show is that the that the US of A is wholy responsible for ordering US troops into Gwangju to run wild and kill at will on that 18th of May and there after. (Of course they know this isn't true, but their contextualization of the issues and near belligerence with which they deliver their message, makes it seems so.) Oh, wait, that was General Chun with Korean troops? The organizers go after the US and not once do they look at themselves in any of this. It is a complete orgy of ethnic nationalism and diatribes about the US of A, at least in the downtown. If you want something more dignified, go to the memorial serve at the May 18th cemetery, at least you can feel the honor, and purpose of why 5.18 happened.

Alias · Joined: 24 Jan 2003

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

Believe it or not, Kok, I actually live right in that 'hood, so I cannot plead foggy recollections or anything like that. Foggy awareness of the world around me, perhaps.
Last year, I did think the ceremony was somewhat debased by an incessant focus on the speed-skating atrocity(they played the incriminating video on a big screen over and over, to the thrashing tune of you-know-what). I mean, I'm more than willing to accept the reality of US involvement in the massacre, but doesn't it sort of trivialize the whole affair by suggesting that this act of mass murder was on the same par as a bad reffing call? Ah, nationalism.
I saw the piece in the Herald. Cho is a major right-wing anti-MDP type, who nonetheless manages to make the occasional good call. I did think that he somewhat skirted around the fact that many innocent people apparently died in the Che-ju suppression, and instead focussed on the fact that they were in revolt against the government, and so should not be honoured by that same government.

The King of Kwangju · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Location: New York City

On the other hand · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Location: I walk along the avenue

Kok:

By "ceremony", I meant the street party. Yes, I'm sure there was a ceremony at the cemetery last year. I live in Kwangju, near the YMCA. A year and a half so far. Don't know the what the actual address is.

OTOH

Dugstool · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Location: Incheon

Well, Masty, I can't let you go experience this America Bashing Bash on your own. I suppose I will tag along. The bottle of Absolut I am bringing for the train will no doubt raise fear and anger in the koreans that will be sitting around us. Looks like we are on the lookout for the YMCA. I hope we can get some more info!