Today in Korean history

Today in Korean history



Nov. 3

1929 -- Students in the southwestern city of Gwangju take to the streets to
protest Japan's colonial occupation of Korea, which began in 1910. The uprising
was the climax of a number of demonstrations and class boycotts by the city's
student organizations, which tried to revive Korean language and history
education in schools. The Japanese governor-general in Korea barred the
instruction of Korean language and history and replaced those classes with
Japanese ones as part of a policy to deprive Koreans of their identity. Colonial
rule ended in 1945 with Japan's defeat at the end of World War II.

1979 -- A state funeral is held for then President Park Chung-hee after he was
assassinated by his intelligence chief Kim Jae-kyu following an 18-year rule.
After rising to power through a military coup, Park secured the presidency for
life by changing the Constitution. The assassination occurred a year after his
ninth term began.

1980 -- A court martial by the South Korean Army sentences then opposition leader
Kim Dae-jung to death on charges of sedition. The administration of then
President Chun Doo-hwan, a general who rose to power through a coup after the
death of Park Chung-hee, charged him with attempting to overthrow the government.
Kim's death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment, and he was released
a year later to receive medical treatment in the United States for an injury to
his leg from torture.
Kim later served as president from 1998 to early 2003 and was awarded the Nobel
Peace Prize in 2000 for his efforts for democracy and inter-Korean
reconciliation.

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