After more than 40 years, survivors of sexual violence during South Korea’s 1980 Gwangju May 18 Democratization Movement have come forward, revealing not only the abuses committed by martial law forces but also exposing shortcomings in the country’s support systems for victims of state violence.

On Sept. 30, survivors shared their accounts during a historic testimony event at the National Assembly Library.

Among the survivors was 71-year-old Choi Kyung-sook, who detailed her experience from May 19, 1980.

At 27, and pregnant with her third child, Choi was assaulted by two soldiers in the back of her vehicle after being