Bu-Ma Democratic Protests

The Bu-Ma Democratic Protests (Korean: 부마민주항쟁; Hanja: 釜馬民主抗爭; RR: Buma Minju Hangjaeng; or Korean: 부마민중항쟁; Hanja: 釜馬民衆抗爭; RR: Buma Minjung Hangjaeng) against the Yushin regime (유신정권), took place between 16 and 20 October 1979 in Busan and Masan (now Changwon), South Korea). Students from Pusan National University began demonstrations calling for the abolition of the Yushin regime. On 17 October the protests grew to include citizens and spread to Masan on 18 and 19 October.[1]

Bu-Ma Democratic Protest
Date16–20 October 1979
Location
Busan, Masan, South Korea
Caused byYushin dictatorship of Park Chung-hee
GoalsDemocratization
MethodsProtest
Resulted inSeveral civilian and military casualties
Parties to the civil conflict
Busan, Masan citizenry
Number
Over 10,000
Casualties and losses

Arrested: 1058

Detained: 125

President Park Chung-hee declared martial law on 18 October and referred 66 people to military court.[2] On 20 October, Park invoked the Garrison Act. The army was mobilized, and 59 civilians were brought to military court.

Background

The 1978 National Assembly election was held in December and was influenced by the government. Nevertheless, the ruling Republican Party was defeated by the New Democratic Party.

In August 1979, female workers of the YH Trading Company (YH무역주식회사) performed a lockout at the headquarters of the New Democratic Party. Because of the lockout, the ruling Republican Party expelled Kim Young-sam[3] from the National Assembly, leading to the resignation of all opposition party members from the National Assembly.

Progress

The protests history is as follows:[4]

  • 3 May 1979 - A national convention of New Democratic Party occurred, the moderate party representative Yi Cheol-seung defected, Kim Young-sam was elected.
  • 11 August 1979 - YH case occurred.
  • 4 October 1979 - The ruling Republicans expelled Kim Young-sam from the National Assembly.
  • 16 October 1979 - Bu-Ma Democratic Protests occurred.
  • 17 October 1979 - Chungmu police substation, the Korea Broadcasting System, and the Busan tax office were destroyed. Police vehicles were burned and damaged.
  • 18 October 1979 - The government proclaimed martial law in Busan at 12:00  am. The military arrested 1,058 people, 66 of who went on to face trial.
  • 20 October 1979 - Governments invoke the Garrison Act at Masan.
  • 26 October 1979 - President Park Chung-hee was assassinated

Influence

This incident incited conflict inside the government, which led in turn to an early ending of the Yushin regime that was maintained by an emergency measure. The protest influenced the Gwangju Uprising and the June Democracy Movement.[5]

Aftermath

Democracy Park was built in 1999, and a monument was erected to honor the participants of the protests.[6]

See also

References
  1. "부마민주항쟁이란?(What is Bu-Ma Democratic Protests?)". 부마민주항쟁 진상규명 및 관련자 명예회복 심의위원회 (Bu-Ma Democratic Protests truth ascertainment · compensation committee) (in Korean). Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  2. Yi, Pyŏng-chʻŏn (2006). Developmental Dictatorship and the Park Chung-hee Era: The Shaping of Modernity in the Republic of Korea. Homa & Sekey Books. p. 236. ISBN 9781931907286. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  3. "의원직 제명당한 김영삼(Kim Young-sam issue of the remarks expulsion on a parliamentary seat in detention)". 연합뉴스 (Yeonhap News). 22 November 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
  4. "(Bu-Ma Democratic Protests) 부마민주항쟁 [釜馬民主抗爭]". Doopedia. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  5. "[역사이야기] 단 한번도 왕의 목을 치지 못한…". Han Hong-gu (한홍구), 《단 한번도 왕의 목을 치지 못한…》. 14 February 2001. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  6. "부산 민주공원 (Busan Democratic Park)". www.demopark.or.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
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