workingclasshistory:

On this day, 18 May 1980, exactly 40 years ago the workers of Gwangju, South Korea, after robbing local armouries and police stations, rose up against their brutal US-backed dictator, Chun Doo-hwan. The uprising took place after peaceful anti-government protesters had been fired upon and killed by government troops. Though it was bloodily suppressed it helped ignite a chain of similar rebellions across Asia, winning people many democratic rights.
Learn more in this book of South Korean people’s history: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/collections/books/products/asias-unknown-uprisings-volume-1-south-korean-social-movements-in-the-20th-century-george-katsiaficas
We are working on a podcast episode with veterans of the moment. Subscribe today on Spotify or your favourite podcast app to ensure you don’t miss it! https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1428827513969061/?type=3