Inheriting the spirit of June Popular Resistance

Inheriting the spirit of June Popular Resistance

Thirty years ago, on June 10, 1987, south Korean people courageously turned out in the action for democracy against dictatorship in protest against fascist rule of Chun Doo-hwan.
                           

On the day, a large-scale rally, sit-in strike and protest against the government took place in south Korea with attendance of 500 000 people.
Three million people of various circles made an attack on administrative machineries and destroyed hundreds of vehicles of the riot police from June 10 to 29.
Frightened by the south Korean people’s dynamic action, the US and Chun Doo-hwan military junta bent their knees to the people by publishing a special declaration promising the constitutional amendment through a direct election, release of detainees and guarantee of freedom of the press in the name of Roh Tae-woo.
The June popular resistance left an indelible trace as it dealt a telling blow at the US and the south Korean military dictatorial force and brought about a fresh turn in the struggle against the US and fascism.
Memorial services were held in different cities of south Korea to mark the June 10 popular resistance.
                       

A rally commemorating the June 10 popular resistance was held in Seoul on June 10 with 5 000 people of different strata involved.
Participants chanted slogans of thirty years ago “Down with autocracy”, “No, military despotism” and “Oust Chun Doo-hawn”, while waving a flag written “Rescue Lee Han-yol”.  
In the afternoon, the 30th memorial service for Lee Han-yol, who was killed by a tear gas bomb fired by the riot police in the June popular resistance, took place.
A speaker at the memorial service said that the people revived the June popular resistance with candlelight action last year to oust Park Geun-hye. We display the same spirit as Lee did in Seoul. The other man called on the participants to pool their efforts to build a new society in which justice of the June popular resistance and candlelight revolution will roll down like waters.
                                     

Three decades have passed since then, but the martyrs' desire for justice and democracy has not yet been realized.
The broad spectrum of south Koreans should intensify the drive to build a new independent society free from foreign forces, a democratic one without fascist autocracy and hasten the day of national reunification desired by the Korean nation.