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1/10/1986 - Where Politics Won’t Die by Steven B. Butler

NOT FOR PUBLICATION WITHOUT WRITER S CONSENT INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Boogak Mansion Pyungchang Dong Chungno Ku Seoul Korea SBB January I0 Where Politics Won Die Mr Peter Bird Martin Director Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock St Hanover N H 03755 Dear Peter I never intended write about politics report I choice In November I visited South Cholla Province friend village there decade I wanted through thought people economy progressed South Korea poorest province I South Cholla special political significance Korea In May after General Chun Doo presi declared martial cities Kwangju Mokpo rebellion Paratroopers Kwangju suppress student demonstrations against militar government The troops brutalized indiscriminately attacking people street After about three people spontaneously decided defend themselves As result universal military training Korea They attacked disarmed drove troops They invaded provincial offices provisional government their For peace democracy reigned these cities before government troops retook control Only spring after opposition strong showing national elections anyone broach subject Kwangju Incident public But debate sadly bogged numbers The government persons Although opposition insists death count closer produced missing persons The issues still touch Who ordered troops Why brutalize population Who responsible deaths Why people insurrection Why government afraid inquiry incident One thing though clear Thousands people experienced catharsis Thousands people threw their personal safety their futures fight something believed again The violence hundreds Steven B Butler Fellow Institute Current World Affairs studying economic political developments Korea Northeast Asia hundreds injured etched experience deeply collective consciousness province I about legacy Kwangju Incident brief visit I Kwangju January I friend relatives deeply involved keeping alive memory May Meeting friend I Lee turned stroke In early unemployed graduate Yonsei University Korea three universities He unemployed choice He could easily business conglomerates since graduated presti gious university He working company though trying study overseas graduate program social I Lee through mutual friend Lee Bible study classes began apartment twice Korean conversation Lee Yonsei He village southern coast South Cholla Province outside rural market Kangjin Although political ideas toward opposition never political activist After finishing primary school worked fields nearly years family before deciding would village On studied passed school equivalence tests He national college examinations enough place first university His success nothing short phenomenal He competed against children middle class families through proper schools stayed every night dozen years studied legally illegally highly tutors maniacal adolescence robbing effort perform eighteen years single examination would deter their entry college their futures Despite Lee obvious intelligence capabilities strikes against complicate finding Both parents He youngest child ditch effort aging father second produce Seoulites country bumkin which unkind because He South Cholla Province where people centuries suffered scorn prejudice So Cholla something Sicily Korea Lee wanted return village raise money relatives coffee Seoul He hopes finance through graduate school So November Lee I drove together seven hours Kangjin I arrived Kangjin exhausted sleepy having stayed night before finish A cousin Lee modern street modern being multisto private baths We second floor where everyone agreed floor deliciously Koreans traditionally heated their homes burning straw running smoke through flues floor The concept steady comfortable temperature poorly cepted today Korea cities Koreans feeling touching sitting sleeping floor And mercury slowly falling through thirties window I floor My friends directed darkest floor which covered paper browned As guest honor I merited hottest My friends noticed I fading quickly I closed window turned floor modern heating through water pipes stretched bedding piled corner slept hours Shortly after I Lee returned elderly nephew Kim Young Kim gently oharge South Cholla Province A brief Kim enough estab credentials dissident In early forties Kim black thinning What remained loosely almost shoulders though simply forgotten barber For together Kim loose fitting black shirt After first though doffed bright oravate Kim sallow features broad roughly handsome Bu projected reassuring friendli woolly sheep would around wolves Kim looked while became dedicated opponen government I found srange I could understand nearly Kim Korean hough appreciably benefi appear efforts simllify vocabulary sentences Kim obviously communicate eople Kim alked Like Souh Cholla Pro vince Kim exciemen presidential campaign Kim Dae charismatic opposition leader Young Kangjin Agriculural Cooperative months worked Kim Dae election campaign Park Chung official margin alhough claim Park rigged counting belief rightful Presiden nation gives Kim Dae supporters Kim Young moral fervor mached political machine Korea As Park became dictatorial 1970s rewrit constitution exend Presidency sripping National Assembly power clamping press hrowing opponents including Kim Dae Kim Young became poliically active Kim Young deeply religious He elder Presbyterian Church Kangjin political activities place conex religious Park CIA Park October political Kim Dae sumping nation again rekindling Presidency Bu premature On December guarding Souh Korea No rumbled mountains Seoul By Army Headquarters silent eneral Chun Doo seized control By spring government declared martial Kwangju rebellion Kim Young ravelling could enter Bu uprising lasing change In Social Purification Campaign followed Kim Kangjin Agriculural Cooperative fired political activities Agriculural cooperatives Korea function elsewhere marketing agriculural produce providing fertilizer inputs providing credi farmers Bu Korea agriculural cooperatives conrolled governmen farmers After scratching around living Kim decided accounting skills learned former minded friends church founded Kangjin Credi Cooperative organization Kim pride owned members democraically whichlendsmoneyomerchantsandoher poorpeople inhearea The Credi Coopera Kim completely independen governmen illusraes democracy Korea needs Between director Credit Cooperative position elder Church Kim plenty opportunity travel people virtually become political activist Since served terms President Korean Ecumenical Christian Youth Council served shorter terms political crimes generlly involving demonstrations against government His political risen The New Korea Democratic Party composed former blacklisted politicians invited National Assembly Kangjin February declined While Kim Dae still banned politics right working National Assembly would better concentrate grass roots organizing something could He travels forth Seoul meets frequently Kim Dae planning strategy picking inspiration great After Zwisting Kim Young night I first realized I brought enough clothing Lee never I should known Kangjin compared Seoul havin grown village Lee different We walked across street credit cooperative small jewelry watch Kim restaurant street where Kim treated first series fabulous multi course Korean meals Kangjin small Wando where Kim would Wando boasts cleanest aters fishing anywhere Korea Hotels Seoul trucks Wando which serve Seoul seafood restaurants We shoes heated floor small private Lee asked I Kisaeng party party professional hostesses I laughed story government Information Ministry treated evening They thought funny Kim Lee straight laced people I anything drink evening glass As strict protestants teetotalers Before began Kim bowed grace asking peace democracy protection human rights quickly Korea The table between piled several dozen dishes sliced freshly opened clams oysters cooked octopus barbecued spicy Kimchi Ko pickled vegetables every possible permutation Freshly tentacles squid danced about plate This famous somethin You tentacles deftly front teeth If suction catch remove Kim Korean tradition would dinner It embarrassment I suffered repeatedly coming He would After dinner Kim another interminable I taken house nearby small piled ceiling books photographs plaques The filled brothers cousins friends watch As honor I broken couch urned oward elevision I until evening appreciated marvelous video recorder A cassette machine special Japanese ogram Kwangju Incident If forbidden Korea In Seoul people clear happened Kwangju because governmen suppressed reports incident Ye color roops aacking people bodies lined emporary morgue families ailing coffins Cars hrough intersec before Provincial Offices Thousands housands people sunny while microphone pleaded democracy Korea Trucks pulled loaded sudens armed hemselves automatic weapons roops I looked around Surely people watched special dozen Ye riveted screen They reliving riumph victory defeat The people their barricades around Government troop barricades apart moved meeting little resistance firmly reestablished control There shooting arrests violence ended After special watched video memorial service years after insurrection May Much opposition party Seoul assem cemetery where victims incident buried together Kim Young reading podium He speaking voice Finally watched great himself Kim Dae speeches while exile United States The slick professional product strong woman voice providing narration My friends laughed because voice sounds North Korean announcer rather typical South Korean monotone To sounded Madison Avenue Kim Lee walked afterward Your floor Kim alarm started complain manager I stopped I I If I sleep Kim looked strangely Lee seemed amused having already learned expect I would behave differently Koreans doing admirable accepting value Neither agreed breakfast I still slept fitfully night The morning clear there plenty water I turned short radio I shaved found New York Stock Exchange again through Lee breakfast wihou aking advantage bouny himself Breakfas Kim predictably sumptuous Soup naurally kimchi Kim served She women aracive because natural beauty because radiates healh vigor Kim looked almos sickly Kim something unusual He I could never wihou support She pulled family hrough I prison This exactly sexual equality Korea acknowledg contribution woman counted progress The drive gorgeous smooh paved hrough rolling farmland broken abruptly tains granite spires Farmers mostly alhough fields cabbage passed recenly bridge which island small Bando beaches clean increasingly popular ouris destination Koreans during summer governmen successful effor place aracive Our destination naurally enough Presbyterian Church credi coope rative If Kim looked dissident I The manager Kangjin Credi Cooperative along every looked businessmen They suits groomed They country businessmen hough relaxed jovial counterparts Seoul They differen because mission They independen ordinary Koreans worked lived simply worshipped nohing special favor anyone certainly government These churches credi cooperatives sores farms fishing hings ordinary Koreans creaed hemselves fough control preserve lives minor chunk nation control governmen despise could possible Ameri Bu Korea where I expected something familiar I touch again again meeting friend thought feeling hands because cannot But American hating government business buttressed strong belief God church burning desire carve little universe where Topping unshakable belief democracy unfettered legally sanctioned tions answer In Kangjin every oouny Korea large cemen building courtyard buses fence rounding usually guard posted This government saffed civil servants appointed under control Home inisry Seoul Local people system govern particularly happen local chaper chiefs ruling authority above Few would argue governmen entirely incompetent Bando fresh aracive growing I wrote report The governmen building harbor handle larger ships The ferry Cheju Island large resor island southern coast hours hydrofoil improvemen roads War raffic being divered radiional ransi Cheju seems assured prosperous future governmen recently action preserve clean beaches Ye government police ominously occupation force In October farmers gathered Kangjin express anger They worked governmen public works construction projects after months procrastination governmen finally farmers grade The farmers incensed gathered governmen responded predictably Rio police arrived buses chased farmers Farmer organizations Union Catholic Farmers recently received another conceived governmen policy The governmen imported large quaniies couraged farmers raise As price dropped farmers savings There suicides cases farmers illegally slaughtering animals public markes leaving carcasses The governmen admitted blundered farmers suffer conse quences And farmers ruling relief sures insolven business groups November inevitably governmen someone ineres first The local democratic control practical heoreical nicey agriculural cooperatives aquatic produc cooperatives under control govern Korea channels express political interests governmen accoun Democracy Korea popular cause brain child urban inellecuals adolescen suden radicals Korea radiion democratic ernmen leaders pointing Bu Korea ready democracy certainly majority ordinary people holding nation Kim seemed people He Aquatic Producs Cooperative building where merchants peddling piles dried laver seaweed sushi rolls All around island farmers lived water gather seaweed during They sheets leave walls straw Kim wonderful watch He bounces swingin forward though drawn along invisible magnetic force After visiting cooperative again another sumptuous multi course Kim disappeared He where Lee police found wanted The police nervous about Kim close They think influence young people On drive stopped briefly Lee village visit older sister Kim mother She appeared baggy padded clothes invited house persim obviously pleased surprise visit We floor inside peeling fruit looked worried Lee explained money needed coffee dreamt about She nothing On recent photo sixtieth birthday celebration Koreans consider sixtieth birthday great events birth marriage Before assembled celebrants photo bouquets flowers inscription attached famous elderly human rights lawyer Kwangju Hong Nam another Kim Dae On Kangjin stopped outside village visit church Lee attended while growing There church building stone beside building bible study classes social programs As I awoke I realized I coming Drat I getting strange places I friends would strange doctor Kim Lee another those meals This I little appetite through Afterwards Kim event program He invited young people church discussion political economic questions Kim introduced Kim charming about people He always terribly impressed other people achievements goodness their character After describing talking quietly inevitably ended observa He person stretching squinting emphasis So Kim repeatedly impressed I wanted ordinary Koreans farmers merchants fisherman lived thought about political questions He added slights about visitors international human rights organizations Kwangju under auspices Korean National Council Churches He sometimes picks Sinyang Park Hotel pretentiously luxurious overpriced hotel mountain overlooking introduces Kwangju famous personalities He never plush comfortable haunts counry where rougher Kim began credentials stretched If resume impression seemed I American wrote Ameri audience I I interested local perceptions Korea economic development start I barrage polite language about messages I enjoined carry American government people I unprepared reaction apparently Kim Kim detail disappointment President Reagan U S policy toward Korea He wanted U S promote democracy Korea rather publicly embrace military dictator He placed hopes Ted Kennedy least democrat would White House clock would turned Carter years U S strong noises about human rights abuses Korea It someone I suppose remembers Carter years fondly Kim though sense I would known enough living useful thing understand people thought about their lives Korea When explained assembled students brought scowls The U S props Chun survive without U S support The U S And U S pressuring Korea markets little suffer result The current theory U S threatening Chun withdrawl political support which would power unless Chun gives trade issues In Chun committed trader least principle forced because exaggerated propaganda government about trade liber alization would Korean economy ended months Chun decided politically damaging I I learned about conditions countryside evening church They farmers fering failure government raise grain prices which I already And tried explain ruling party better countryside February election cities government threw money There implied threats withdrawl money public works Police illegally obstructed campaigning opposition It government difficult outsiders verify other That evening though first since I arrived Korea I harangued because I Ameri It would Afterwards Kim congratulated remaining polite abuse I I could understand nuances I heard I I thinking should I I represent U S government The clouded picked Mokpo morning We stopped route establish another Kim persons Mr Park juice canning operation caters local farmers He church political activist I beginning Kim network political buddies extensive I imagined I harangue before lunch unfortunately Western restaurant But I completely appetite anyway could something amiss somewhere When arrived Mokpo skies opened steady downpour looked tired Mokpo fresh spark I found small Korean cities Koreans thing about Mokpo blame govern saying punished having produced Kim Dae While South Cholla behind rapid development Korea experienced 1970s Mokpo seems 1980s province But Mokpo I accept govern argument still principal harbor region accommodate ships thousand modern standards While might possible deepen harbor would pointless channel through stretch islands shallow water Mokpo being behind looks We drove street nearly before turning parking front small store Kim ahead signaled follow We climbed narrow staircase beside store entered second floor large bookcase kerosene heater middle A forward shake I impressed If Kim Young exuded reassuring shaggy friendliness power His short compact He moved gracefully though every muscle under relaxed under careful control ready spring action The angling eyebrows toward bridge added drama movement The handed simply An Chul pharma because An Chul He store downstairs least since getting prison Christmas amnesty Like Kim Dae An Chul today stripped civil rights citizen Korea An Chul Mokpo insurrection Unlike Kwangju insur rection Mokpo because An insisted collected locked For defeated nvicted today legally denied political rights watched harrasse agents National Security Planning Agency formerly KCIA An amazing bundle confidence optimism In frustrated because thought minority But everything turned around An talking about February National Assembly which electorate ballots against ernment Because bonus system government party majority Assembly His confidence surprised because Seoul widespread disappoinmen opposition failure overcome inernal factional blems disappoinmen effectively fanned governmen rolled media Bu provinces An ohers opposition discoun media colleagues Assembly For significan Korean people suppor democracy history I perspective I would appre ciate deeply coming By Kwangju afternoon began heavily I could pressure building mysomach Iknewfinallyha Iwouldhaveohaveopayfor meals I prayed would before I reached comfortable Kwangju The drive Kwangju The being widened lanes passed opposite direction splashed windshield The expansion Kwangju highway received aenion Korean press progress reports sometimes coming radio The decision expand highway widely Presiden Chun apology province Kwangju Incident I reach seled recover serious poison Korea On onday morning I ecemb Lee across Kim lunch Kim invited sentencing suden acivis I I senencings before Seoul They boring I appreciated presence foreign journalis would obviously behind speech small moral accused Bu I could feeling futile After skipping meals hough I enough energy schedule I along We arrived coffee Lee joked cousin Kim operated Korean could never would Kim unpredictable Korean precisely because industrialization urbanization Koreans punctual The arrive medium build fifty years wearing plaid spors jacke He preoccupied alhough seemed hough waned something Kang Bong father Kang Sung whose sentencing would The younger Kang become presiden suden council Chosun University Kwangju series demonstrations againshegovernmenharesuled inviolenclasheswihpolice As government policy opponents roseouion arrested filed charges agains Kang under harsh National Security Law The National Security Law designed prevent subversion allows maximum penalty death In prose cution asking seven years Kang being tried grounds communist No doubts student political thinking taken sharp toward these Korea Korean students better organized violent Students begun talking about struggle would clearly overthrow government unted tradition massive student demonstrations Seoul forced resignation President Syngman Rhee The students incensed because obvious fraud recent presidential election Dependency theory latest along conspiracy theories about links between multi national companies U S military government business groups Korea exploiting little Korea benefit domes international Students break Korea business groups But students communist Are working interests North Korea charged courts Government analysts taken excerpts student tical tracts lined similar ideas found North Korean propaganda taken grounds legal action The government launched vigorous public campaign discredit students The campaign having effect Although Koreans student violence government harder alienating people The parents students occupied U S Cultural Center Seoul May turned initially appealing U S Embassy Korean government mercy forgiveness apologizing behalf their children Before started leading demonstrations their against military dictatorship U S support By Kim showed bther luncheon guests arrived protestant ministers young Kang lawyer Lee Ki known human rights activist The senior Kang fertilizer merchant Kangjin happened elder Kim Presbyterian Church The ministers together Kang throughout trial When arrived courtroom I discovered Kang holders I imagined The church Kangjin tered every previous session trial loaded parishioners farmers merchants retired One white beard showed rubber boots pantaloons Kim toward woman smiling seconds recog It Kim mother For special event purple dress Was woman I earlier The gallery courtroom packed Kim pointed standing plainclothes agents Kang Sung police escorts Kang husky padded clothing Korean prisons winter looked cross between pajamas white marshal He smiled nodded toward family friends walked toward center courtroom His expres suggested about receive award diploma rather entence prison Kim leaned forward How health Fine student answered quickly A three judge panel arrived They three judges because Kim judge sentence which about minute Kim whispered Five years When judge finished reading Kang leapt turned toward audience With raised denly looked powerful though could police escort gigantic LONG LIV DMOCRACY LONG LIVE DW MOCKACY He managed twioe before police hustled As judges escaped through small behind bench audience simultaneously began church When finished bowed their heads while Reverend Shin Kyung Sung Church Kwangju prayer We witness before God pastor Kang Sun Communis Silence descended courtroom moment It Kang mother quietly along other women audience Kang father stepped front Thank everyone support given during trial softly watery Outside courtroom Kim introduced attractive dressed woman forties When heard I American wrote American media launched tirade Our children because protest aainst Jenkins Why America Why doesn America support democracy Korea Lee enough responses began talko He Reagan wasoin Jenkins Bill unlikely become ThaZ quieted moment hardly satisfied Her daughter I learned already begun serve prison convicted under National Security Law Her husband university professor recently demoted speakin publicly 8ainst Campus Stabilization Law proposed overnment would empowered udicial panel incar cerate radical students months reorientation After finishin enumeration complaints aainst U S suddenly switched English I America apoloetieally But I HATE America Many Koreans begun betrayed U S This recent phenomenon surprising because reservoir toward U S Korea extremely Koreans U S saved south communism durin Korean War They appreciate U S security commitment South Korea continues protect Even radical students withdrawl U S troops Korea Koreans recognize U S economic helped Korea enormously Koreans U S opportunity freedom That U S produces outside U S Embassy morning Seoul Everyone seems wants there Park Chung staged military U S denounced called return constitutional government The failed Koreans perceived U S stood democracy Koreans credit U S trappings democracy Park eventually adopted When Chun Doo power U S reacted differ ently On night December Chun pulled Division Army front Demilitariv Zone staged brought control Army The Division formally under control U S Commander Korea 4ovement troops would apparently breach command U S nothing Faced accompli U S decided could nothing But Koreans concluded U S tacitly explicitly supported The U S denounce violence against civilians occurred during Kwangju Incident It deplored violence general taking neutral stand It released Korean troops under U S command retake Ignoring advise U S Ambassador Korea President Reagan first invitation extended foreign state visit U S President Chun With hearty public embrace Washington President Reagan effectively restored credibility U S security commitment South Korea which suffered under President Carter But Koreans concluded U S anymore about whether Korea democracy adequate protection human rights In Korean government encouraged Korean newspapers handle publicly exaggerated accounts protec tionist trends U S their effect Korean economy American sentiment reached level concensus U S diplomats begun worry privately about conse quences younger generation comes convinced U S trying exploit Korea people friction between U S Korea normal natural Korea develops economically becomes independent minded But extent hostility already beyond normal expected As I turned leave Kim tugged You Nine students taken U S Cul tural Center hopped I would writing story tonight Do think impact U S policy toward Korea Kim asked Even after political discussions I still amazed naivete although I think I liked Honesty I decided would No I It probably effect sudens occupied U S Culural Cener Seoul urned field U S media The lracical effec seems balance inside governmen oward liners resuling crack dissidents The protesters Cener peaceful waiing police buses after dialogue U S officials The Kwangju occupation would nearly glorious Police cordoned approaches Cener I arrived alhough I police lines showing press The sudens already hoarse singing shouting slogans outside sared again A plainclothesman asked I I small where I saying I guesswork A plainclothesman saioned lobby The police interested I heard about I happened Kwagju couple U S diplomats curious I outside Cener boring The director Ceuer Seoul meeting returned helicopter I elephoned inside Cener I informed I would Embassy Seoul information So being scene The sudens brough gasoline bombs evening refused another session logue U S officials U S ambassador Seoul patience called police arres sudens They riedo lighoneofhebombs budidnoknowheyhadoleave fizsled They likelyo heard again As sudens surely sorming U S Culural Cener cocktails another would spend years Wha probably didocoun people would noice I spent Kwangju enemy I South Cholla Provincial government Lee accompanied rough parts interview The provincial government offices housed those pastel concrete cubes larger grand Upon entering these buildings always remind schools built U S during The stairs hallways though built accommodate crush students changing class The windows impossibly I anyone could accomplish something place vacant spaces How better enjoy coming through windows papers office course happens It Koreans their habits government bureaucracy We Kang Young director general planning management province He responsibility putting together public investment program South Cholla Kang reminded government bureaucrats I Seoul smart cated pleasant pleasant To become official Kang higher level civil service examination The examination highly competitive I anyone passed strike intelligent Kang native South Cholla After working years Seoul requested transfer request sympathize Kwangju lovely cleaner crowded Seoul cultural intellectual traditions Kwangju I spent pleasant after wandering around something I never managed Seoul Poverty driven people South Cholla Seoul Pusan The province highest migration province country The public investments along Korea rapid economic growth 1960s 1970s passed South Cholla favor region surround Pusan President Park Seoul region From purely technical stand point strategy But spilled during Kwangju uprising stemmed widespread feeling central government neglected exploited province People ready blame centuries prejudice against people South Cholla President toward As Kang tells people South Cholla friendly emotional stubborn sometimes argumentative Since coming office President Chun moved effectively balance opposite direction The Kwangju Mokpo iceberg The expressway Taejon Kwangju being widened lanes highway Kwangju Taegu finished The railroad Taejon expanded single double track Secondary roads throughout region paved breakneck speed New construction years equal construction vious forty years Industrial estates being expanded harbors dredged piped water supply tripled The average capita gross regional product value everything produced Cholla still behind national fifteen percent But Cholla integrated nation infrastructure needed support rapid economic growth Living Seoul watching opposition falling apart factional bickering watching television recent brawl National Assembly floor between rulin opposition parties watehin escalatin violence student attacks overn government determined efforts crack opponents watching seems steady deterioration political dialogue I pessimis about Korea future Yet drive Seo I realized optimism people I Kwangju rubbed The opposition Seoul often seems without there It healthy strong Before meeting provincial officials I discus leader movement promote democracy protection human rights Kwangju He received longest prison terms after Kwangju Incident although others freed prison amnesty He asked creatin trouble pciice Mr Chang I believes realize democracy within sight Christianity Korea taken rocket bringin people together giving nation spiritual strength lacked since Japan colonized Korea after century The election showed clearly Korean people support democracy understand exercise democratic rights responsibi Iitias Although between opposition government appears unbridgeable sides strong incentives compro The government needs opposition Assembly legitimacy sooner later terms movement Korean people plainly support The opposition needs Assembly least because sition assemblymen wealthy deeply during election If unruly President dissolves Assembly Constitution allows after April could expense another election quickly The opposition achieve constitutional revision before compromise reform early president might possible If process breaks military steps temporary Even military cannot history Mr Chang vision sustained optimism least Seoul Soon after I returned Lee house bitterly disap pointed because could raise enough money coffee Two weeks after called could longer early mornings Korean He taken Hyundai Engineering Construction Co flagship company Korea largest business conlomerate Best Steven B Butler Received Hanover