Gwangju Uprising’s sexual assault violence survivors speak outーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
South Korea is remembering a turning point in its democracy. At least 166 people died during the Kangju pro-democracy movement of 1980. But many still don’t know about the sexual violence women there faced at the time. NHK World’s Kim Chanju has more and warning. Some viewers may find this content disturbing. These women came to discuss something that for decades had remained a secret. All of them say they were sexually assaulted during and after the Kangju uprising over 40 years ago. [Music] The session was organized by Y, a group representing the women assaulted at the time. Kimuk was one of the first to break her silence. She says what happened to her 45 years ago still torments her like a physical pain. I never feel well when May is approaching. In May 1980 during the height of the pro-democracy protests, Kim was studying music at university. For four days, she helped foreign reporters get their press cards in Guangju. Over a month later, she was picked up by martial law command. For about two months, she faced humiliating interrogations and beatings. On her last day in custody, she was raped by the police investigator questioning her. I feel this twinge in my chest. I should be at peace, but something presses down on my heart. I consult with a psychiatric clinic, but I can’t forget that incident in May. In the decades since, no one ever spoke out about the sexual violence that took place in Kangju. But Kim realized that had to change after seeing the Me Too movement in 2018. If I can’t prove what happened to me, how can those who were assaulted by a soldier just passing by prove what happened to them? I thought maybe this is the one seed I have to plant before I die. Thanks to your testimony, the government launched a third-party panel to investigate instances of sexual violence during and after the protests. It released its final report last year. It confirmed there were at least 16 cases of sexual violence, including Kim, but the government shelved any kind of former response to the report. So Kim alongside other victims filed a lawsuit seeking government compensation, but their lawyer says they haven’t heard anything from the government yet. As the 45th anniversary of the protests approached, the speaker of the National Assembly asked to meet with the victims. They requested his support, saying many of the women are older and suffer from health issues. We don’t have long left to live. I want to ask lawmakers to revise the compensation law to include us to help us cure at least the wounds in our hearts. As May comes and goes again, they hope to serve as an example of women who overcame trauma and the government’s indifference. Such horrible things should never happen again. I think what we have done will help those still living in silence find their courage and speak out about what happened to them. I have bitterly walked this long, painful road. But today I have friends beside me and being with them brings me something like joy. My walk home felt a little lighter today. For these women who long for their trauma in the shadows, why their fight isn’t over, at least they won’t be fighting alone. Kim Tanju and HK World.
After 45 years, many still don’t know about the sexual violence women faced around the Gwangju Uprising. Today, the survivors are speaking out in the hopes of forcing the government to act. NHK World’s Kim Chan-ju has more. #southkorea
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