Prime minister calls Gwangju uprising a proud history

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, May 18 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Han Seung-soo on Monday called for
national unity and efforts to build a first-rate state based on the lessons
learned from the 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Gwangju.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 29th anniversary of the uprising, Han said
South Korea is capable of overcoming any difficulty as long as the spirit and
lessons of the movement are revived.
"The May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement is a proud history of our country in
which the people did not succumb to extreme conditions but cooperated in
ultimately achieving democracy," Han said.
The uprising in the southwestern city, about 320 kilometers from Seoul, was
crushed in a bloody government crackdown. The regime of then President Chun
Doo-hwan, who took power through a military coup in 1979, dispatched paratroopers
and tanks to brutally put down the revolt.
According to government data, about 200 people were killed and 1,800 others
wounded in the uprising. But unofficial figures put the death toll at more than
2,000.
"I send my deepest consolation to the families of the victims who suffered
greatly that day and also deliver the utmost respect to the people of Gwangju and
South Jeolla province."
The prime minister also lauded the region's people for their courage in the midst
of the struggle, saying that the movement served as a "big cornerstone" for the
promotion of democracy in the country.
Han also underscored the importance of sublimating the tragic incident into a
rallying point for the nation to overcome the economic crisis and catapult itself
onto the international stage.
"In facing an unprecedented global economic crisis, I strongly believe that the
people will unite to successfully overcome (the hardships) and create new
opportunities," the prime minister said.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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