Victims of 'Geondae Uprising' Demand Ex Officio Investigation, Citing 'Communist Riot' Smear

The '10.28 Geondae Uprising' remains a deeply painful scar on South Korea's modern history, a stark reminder of the brutal suppression of dissent during the Chun Doo-hwan era. For the victims, who are now coming forward to seek truth and reconciliation, the fight is not just about acknowledging past injustices but about rectifying a historical narrative that they believe has been deliberately distorted.

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The previous investigation only acknowledged the harm from the five-day illegal detention. The essence of the incident is that the Chun Doo-hwan regime branded students as communists to extend its rule.

From the perspective of the victims and their support groups, the uprising was a genuine expression of democratic aspirations, not the 'communist riot' the regime branded it. The scale of the crackdown—1,525 arrests and 1,288 detentions—was unprecedented, aimed at crushing any semblance of opposition and reinforcing the authoritarian grip on power. The subsequent labeling of students as 'communists' served as a powerful tool to delegitimise their demands for political freedom and democracy.

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The Geondae Uprising was a legitimate democratic uprising of students demanding democracy and political freedom. The Chun Doo-hwan military regime politically distorted these democratization protests and created a large-scale public security crisis by defining them as a 'communist riot' through an operation called 'Ox 30'.

The demand for an ex officio investigation by the TRC stems from a belief that the previous inquiry was insufficient. By focusing solely on the period of detention, it failed to delve into the systemic manipulation and state-orchestration that characterized the event. The victims are seeking a comprehensive investigation that will officially recognize the uprising as a state-manipulated incident, thereby clearing their names and acknowledging the regime's role in fabricating the 'communist' narrative.

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We, who were doused with tear gas and dragged out during the suppression, were treated worse than animals, beaten with clubs and sticks. Even after that, the stigma of being a 'communist revolutionary' followed us our whole lives.

This pursuit of truth is not merely an academic exercise; it is deeply personal for those who endured physical and psychological trauma, and who carried the stigma of being branded 'communists' for decades. Their testimonies of brutal treatment and the lasting psychological scars highlight the profound human cost of political repression. The hope is that a thorough investigation will not only bring closure to the victims but also contribute to a more accurate and complete understanding of South Korea's struggle for democracy.

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A student from Hanshin University, (Kwak) Hyun-jung, couldn't receive medical treatment and took her own life due to trauma. There are many other victims who complain of psychological damage.