|
View larger picture |
|
| ▲ On May 18, 2018, at a ceremony to commemorate the 38th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement, Ok-Joo Jeon re-enacts the street broadcast that was conducted to encourage citizens’ participation during the May 18 period. | |
| Ⓒ SBS |
View related photos |
On the 16th, during the May 18 People’s Uprising, Jeon Ok-ju, who had a street broadcast, passed away.
Jeon Ok-ju was born in Boseong, Jeollanam-do in 1949. In 1980, he studied dance at Wonkwang University’s Department of Physical Education and then served as a dance instructor. In May of that year, Chun came to Gwangju to help her aunt. It was a time when no one could imagine that the citizens of Gwangju would unfold a terrible uprising over ten days against the military commander Doo-hwan Chun.
On May 18, Jeon Ok-ju went to Geumnam-ro like any other Gwangju citizen. He witnessed the scene of students being trampled and arrested there. In the May of that year, Mr. Chun naturally jumped into the struggle, just like any other Gwangju citizen did. At the time, Gwangju was lacking information on’what is happening in Gwangju’. The media, which began to report the’situation’ in Gwangju belatedly, carried out a distorted report of the content that “the impurities caused a riot.”
A consensus has begun to form among citizens about the role of the media itself. So, Mr. Jeon went to the town office to get the speaker and amplifier. The official in charge struck his hand, but Chun left 70,000 won of cash in hand in the office.
Later, he started broadcasting around Gwangju with speakers attached to the truck. Through his mouth, what is happening in Gwangju was conveyed in detail. It is known that the civilian army is aiming at the citizen with a gun in his hand to protect the country.
The media needed to properly inform the situation… With a speaker on the truck for 70,000 won
On May 20, the martial law forces launched a systematic firing against the citizens gathered in front of Gwangju Station for the first time. The first firing took place in front of Gwangju High School on the 19th, the day before, but the firing on the 20th was indeed collectively conducted toward unarmed citizens. On this day, four citizens died by bullets from the martial law forces. However, the martial law command at the time insisted that “no civilians are harmed.”
On May 21, angry citizens came to Geumnam-ro, carrying the bodies of two citizens killed by martial law forces at Gwangju Station the day before on a rear car. Jeon Ok-ju grabbed the microphone and appealed to the citizens. It was announced that the people’s armed forces used the guns that were handed over to defend the country to kill citizens.
At this time, it was said that the citizens who gathered in Geumnam-ro should naturally select the citizen’s representative. Four people, including Jeon Ok-ju and Kim Beom-tae, were selected as representatives, and they entered the provincial office and interviewed Jeonnam Province Governor Jang Hyung-myeong.
Citizens’ representatives delivered requests such as withdrawal of martial law forces and release of prisoners. The governor promised to Jeon Ok-ju, “If you reassure citizens through the broadcast, I will go out and say consolation words later.” However, even after the promised time had passed, the governor did not come outside.
On May 21, at 1 pm, the martial law forces began to fire in front of the Jeonnam Provincial Office. Martial law forces launched an indiscriminate fire against unarmed citizens gathered on Geumnam-ro. According to records, at least 54 civilians were killed by soldiers’ firearms that day. Hundreds of Gwangju citizens were shot.
The angry citizens began to hold guns. Martial law forces withdrew from the Jeonnam Provincial Office at 5:30 PM, completely escaped from Gwangju and completely isolated Gwangju. No one could get out of the city, and no one could enter the city. Gwangju has become a lonely island.
Nevertheless, Jeon Ok-ju continued the street broadcasting. The citizens of Gwangju had to be informed of what is happening in this city. The’massacre’ was committed by the soldiers of my country, but the citizens were still familiar with the existing order. Citizens thoroughly monitored the suspicious person to prevent North Korea from intervening in Gwangju.
Ironically, Jeon Ok-ju, who negotiated with the Governor of Jeonnam Province as a citizen representative, was the target. On the 23rd, Jeon, who had already been suspected of being a’spy’, was once again conspired to be a spy. When it was not easy for women to take the lead, the act of holding a microphone and shaking the hearts of citizens became the object of suspicion. Chun was arrested by the citizens on the way back after leaving his body in Christian hospital. He was taken that way to security.
On May 23, Jeon Ok-ju was taken, but the street broadcast did not end. Similarly, Ms. Cha Myung-sook and Park Young-soon, who had jumped into the struggle for fear of the military’s violence, made street broadcasts every day through a speaker attached to a truck. At the time of the last fight on the 27th, Park Young-soon remained at the Jeonnam Provincial Office until the end and conducted the ‘5·18 Last Broadcast’ through the broadcasting room speaker. Gwangju was able to shine because of their sacrifice.
Jeon Ok-ju was dragged, but the street broadcast did not end
Jeon Ok-ju, who was taken to the security team, was exposed to all kinds of torture. The military needed a’spy’ to dismiss the resistance of Gwangju citizens.
Jeon Ok-ju, who was arrested while leading the protesters on street broadcasting and was brought to the security forces, was subjected to all kinds of shameful torture that was difficult to endure as a woman. He was hit by a baseball bat and an iron pipe, and his arm broke in one day, and his whole body was swollen. Not only did he not sleep for ten days, but he was not allowed to go to the bathroom, and he was asked to toilet on the lawn with a gun aimed at his chest.
“The most unbearable thing was the shameful sexual torture. After taking off all my clothes, the investigator made an embarrassing violent remark and atrocities even to put it in his mouth. After taking off all my clothes, the investigators randomly picked and crushed the pussy with a gun butt and a wooden ruler. The bleeding started, but the sexual torture didn’t stop. He stabbed his knee with a sharp awl and struck his whole body with a bat like crazy. Two vertebrae were struck by an iron pipe.”
-Kim Hee-gyeong’Gwangju Uprising Street Broadcasting Woman Jeon Ok-ju’s Shock Confession: The Spy Manipulation Sex Torture Endured’, <신동아> September 1996
In September of that year, Jeon Ok-ju was transferred to the mining police station. The military detained all women arrested during the Gwangju Uprising into detention centers at the mining police station. At that time, in Gwangsan-seo, there were three people Jeon Ok-ju, Cha Myung-sook, and Park Young-soon, who were performing street broadcasts at the time of May 18, and women arrested by martial law forces while guarding the Jeonnam Provincial Office until the end.
The military did not pay much attention to female prisoners. The military had already completed a scenario for May 18, “a civil war designed by a student activist and a returning student from Chonnam National University’Jung Dong-nyeon’ under the control of opposition leader Kim Dae-jung.”
Those who transformed mediocrity into greatness that day
|
A press conference was held to condemn the’Meeting to Love Former President Chun Doo-Hwan’, which promotes anti-viewing campaigns. Jeon Ok-joo attending the press conference on this day.” class=”zoom-btn” data-high-res-src=”http://ojsfile.ohmynews.com/STD_IMG_FILE/2021/0217/IE002761972_STD.jpg”>Big Photo view <화려한 휴가> A press conference was held to condemn the’Meeting to Love Former President Chun Doo-Hwan’, which promotes anti-viewing campaigns. Jeon Ok-ju attended the press conference on this day.” class=”photo_boder” /> |
|
| ▲ On August 9, 2007, in front of Danseongsa Temple in Jongno 3-ga, Seoul, “Mother’s Association of May” members held a press conference condemning the “Meeting to Love Former President Chun Doo-Hwan” campaigning against watching movies. Jeon Ok-ju attended the press conference on this day. | |
| Ⓒ Oh My News |
View related photos |
Jeon Ok-ju was sentenced to 15 years in prison and served in Gwangju Prison for one year. This was one of the heaviest penalties for women who participated in the May 18. Even after being released from prison, Chun suffered from deep-rooted torture sequelae. The bleeding did not stop for 3 years.
The same was true of Park Young-soon, who conducted the last broadcast. Park married shortly after release and left Gwangju, and for three years, her father-in-law had to ride a bicycle every day and take him to the hospital. Park was only able to return to Gwangju in 2015.
On February 16, 2021, I received a truly unfortunate news. During the Gwangju Uprising, it was news that Jeon Ok-ju, who had hosted a street broadcast, had a sudden death. When I think of the pain of the past he had to go through, my heart is shaken. It was a burden we all had to share.
There are some who made their careers using the uprising of that day, but we owed too much debt to those who changed the ordinary into greatness that day.
Please refrain from doing so and wish Jeon Ok-joo’s blessing.