Uncovering the Full Truth of May 18th: Was US Nuclear Security the Motive?

The push to enshrine the spirit of the May 18th Gwangju Democratization Movement into South Korea's constitution is a welcome step towards national reconciliation and democratic advancement. However, as the Hankyoreh has consistently argued, this constitutional recognition must be accompanied by a thorough and unflinching investigation into the full truth of the events of May 1980. Decades later, critical questions linger, particularly concerning the extent of the US government's involvement and the precise chain of command that led to the brutal suppression of civilian protests. The article delves into a compelling, albeit unverified, hypothesis: that the US military's actions, or inactions, during the Gwangju Uprising were not merely passive observation but potentially driven by the need to secure tactical nuclear weapons stored at the K-57 air base near Gwangju. This theory suggests that the US perceived the situation as a threat to its strategic nuclear assets, thus prioritizing their protection over the democratic aspirations of the Korean people. Such a revelation, if proven, would fundamentally alter our understanding of the Gwangju Uprising and expose the complex interplay of geopolitical interests that shaped South Korean history. The continued secrecy surrounding US military documents related to the period, referred to as the 'Cherokee File,' only fuels speculation and underscores the necessity for greater transparency from Washington. Until these historical enigmas are fully unraveled, the narrative of May 18th remains incomplete, and the pursuit of historical justice is hampered.

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The most decisive reason for not reaching the truth of May 18 is that the decision-making process of the White House and the National Security Council (NSC), which held military power in South Korea at the time, is still confined to the 'secret' sanctuary.