{"id":2206765,"date":"2024-10-11T16:38:25","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T07:38:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2206765"},"modified":"2024-10-11T17:18:11","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T08:18:11","slug":"survivors-of-gwangju-uprising-break-silence-on-sexual-violence-after-40-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/10\/survivors-of-gwangju-uprising-break-silence-on-sexual-violence-after-40-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Survivors of Gwangju Uprising break silence on sexual violence after 40 years"},"content":{"rendered":"
After more than 40 years, survivors of sexual violence during South Korea\u2019s 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\u2019s support systems for victims of state violence.<\/span><\/p>\n On <\/span>Sept. 30<\/span><\/a>, survivors shared their accounts during a historic testimony event at the National Assembly Library.<\/span><\/p>\n Among the survivors was 71-year-old Choi Kyung-sook, who detailed her experience from May 19, 1980.<\/span><\/p>\n At 27, and pregnant with her third child, Choi was assaulted by two soldiers in the back of her vehicle after being forcibly stopped on her way to pick up her children. When she reached a midwifery clinic after the attack, nurses informed her that she had lost her child.<\/span><\/p>\n Choi\u2019s experience, while deeply personal, reflects a broader pattern of abuse many survivors endured in silence, burdened by their memories, societal stigma and government neglect.<\/span><\/p>\n The testimonies exposed significant gaps in South Korea\u2019s approach to supporting victims of state-perpetrated sexual violence, highlighting insufficient administrative practices and a reluctance to fully confront the past.<\/span><\/p>\n Experts interviewed by <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> emphasized that more than mere acknowledgment is needed to address these long-standing injustices. They called for comprehensive legislative and procedural reforms to ensure the state takes full responsibility for past atrocities and provides meaningful support for survivors.<\/span><\/p>\n Sexual assault survivors, supporters and South Korean lawmakers pose for a photo after a testimony event for sexual violence victims of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement at the National Assembly Library on Sept. 30 | Image: Courtesy of Yoon Kyung-hoe<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n NEW REVELATIONS<\/b><\/p>\n The May 18 Democratization Movement, which began as a student protest against Chun Doo-hwan\u2019s martial law, escalated into a citywide uprising in Gwangju. The ensuing military crackdown left hundreds dead or injured.<\/span><\/p>\n Decades later, alongside the survivors\u2019 testimonies, the May 18 Democratization Movement Truth Commission released a report in <\/span>Dec. 2023<\/span><\/a>, documenting a systematic pattern of sexual violence.<\/span><\/p>\n The report revealed that the ROK Army\u2019s 7th Airborne Brigade, deployed on May 18, 1980, had received orders to \u201cstrip women\u2019s clothes,\u201d leading to numerous incidents of forced disrobing.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese actions were widespread and part of an organized pattern of state violence, not isolated misconduct,\u201d Yoon Kyung-hoe, a former team leader of the May 18 Commission, told <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Military records also uncovered a disturbing pattern of sexual assaults by reservists, particularly against teenage girls. \u201cThe average victim age was 15, with the youngest just 11,\u201d Yoon said.<\/span><\/p>\n The investigation revealed multiple instances of harassment and assault during arrests. More severe cases involved allegations of rape.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWe uncovered numerous reports of women being assaulted by soldiers, yet found no military court proceedings related to these cases,\u201d Yoon explained.<\/span><\/p>\n The commission <\/span>verified<\/span><\/a> 16 cases of sexual violence committed by martial law troops and state actors, though it initially identified 52 potential cases. Verification efforts were hindered by a lack of victim consent and insufficient evidence.<\/span><\/p>\n Yoon noted that societal attitudes in the 1980s and legal definitions hampered reporting and prosecution. Sexual violence was often framed as a crime of a woman \u201closing her chastity,\u201d a view that discouraged many victims from coming forward due to fears of social stigma.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite the May 18 Movement\u2019s official state recognition in 1997 and its inclusion in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register in 2011, many victims remained silent.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThey feared being labeled as women who lost their chastity,\u201d Yoon said, adding that those who did speak out often faced skepticism.<\/span><\/p>\n The commission\u2019s <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> called for state measures to heal and restore honor to survivors who have come forward after four decades. It also urged the military and police to establish safeguards against future \u201ccrimes against humanity\u201d during official duties.<\/span><\/p>\n Martial law troops detain citizens during the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in 1980 | Image: Lee Chang-seong, courtesy of The May 18 Foundation<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n CONTINUED NEGLECT<\/b><\/p>\n The South Korean government\u2019s response to the findings on sexual violence during the May 18 Movement has drawn criticism, raising concerns about its commitment to addressing historical injustices.<\/span><\/p>\n On <\/span>June 24<\/span><\/a>, the Truth Commission submitted its report to the president and the National Assembly, recommending compensation for victims of sexual violence perpetrated by martial law troops.<\/span><\/p>\n However, Yoon revealed to <\/span>Korea Pro<\/span><\/i> that the Presidential Office \u201cdeclined an in-person briefing\u201d on the report, opting instead for a written submission. This departure from standard protocol \u2014 where investigative bodies typically provide face-to-face briefings \u2014 has raised alarm.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cAfter receiving the report, the Presidential Office should have convened a ministerial meeting, including the justice and interior ministers, to establish roles that they will play to address the issue,\u201d Yoon said. \u201cThere has been no sign of that so far.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n