Date: Sun, 26 Nov 95 17:45:24 -0800
From: Arm The Spirit <ats-AT-etext.org>
Subject: Chronology of S.Korea's bloody 1980 civil uprising


Chronology of S.Korea's bloody 1980 civil uprising

    SEOUL, Nov 25 (Reuter) - South Korean president Kim
Young-sam ordered his ruling party on Friday to draft a special
law to punish his predecessors Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae-woo for
their roles in the brutal repression of a 1980 pro-democracy
civil uprising in the southwestern city of Kwangju.
    The Kwangju incident, in which 200 people were killed by
official count, has had long-term repercussions and continues to
affect national politics.
    Here is a chronology of major events leading up to and
following the crackdown:
    October 1979 - General-turned-president Park Chung-hee's
18-year dictatorship ends when he is assasinated by one of his
closest confidantes, chief of the Korean Central Intelligence
Agency, Kim Chae-gyu.
    Martial law is declared in the capital area. Premier Choi
Kyu-hah is named acting president.
    May 1980 - All political meetings are banned, the National
Assembly is dissolved and the government begins a round-up of
student activists and noted dissidents.
    May 17, 1980 - Martial law is extended throughout the
nation.
    May 18, 1980 - Student activists in Kwangju begin clashes
with riot police to protest against the imposition of harsher
martial law.
    Over the next few days, the city turns into a war zone as
soldiers armed with bayonets and live ammunition battle citizens
in street melees.
    May 20, 1980 - The South Korean government resigns, leaving
the military, run by Lieutenant-General Chun Doo Hwan, and
president Choi in charge.
    May 27, 1980 - The uprising is stamped out. According to
official counts, 200 people were killed in the fighting, but
Kwangju citizens and dissident groups say the toll was much
higher.
    August 1980 - Chun pushes Choi aside and is named president.
He is re-elected in 1981 and serves till February 1988. Roh
Tae-woo succeeds Chun and serves till February 1993.
    1991 - Nine South Koreans commit suicide in protests over
the Kwangju massacre.
    July 18, 1995 - Prosecutors refuse to charge Chun and Roh,
who was also an army general during the rebellion, with any
offence linked to it.
    November 24, 1995 - President Kim Young-sam instructs his
ruling party to draft a special law to punish Chun and Roh for
their role in the crackdown.



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