Taking to the streets.
Lift Material law!, Secure workers' right!, step up political reforms!
March of torches
Prelude to suppression
Students move forwards Geumnam Street chanting “Let’s go to Geumnam Street
Paratroopers perform a suppression operation at Yudong intersection
Martial Law Headquarters Advances the existing curfew to 9pm
The first known fatality was a 29-year-old deaf man named Kim Gyeong-cheol, who was clubbed to death on May 18 while passing by the scene.
More citizens join in the protests and throw stones at Paratroopers On Geumnam street
Paratroopers who had been driven from Chosun university begina new suppression operation
The soldiers inside fired on the demonstrators near Gaerim police station High school student Kim young chon is wounded. This further incites citizens.
Thens of thousands of citizens shout “out with Chun doo hwan”
Thirty people of both sexes are stripped down to their underwear and beaten in front of the Catholic center. Battles continue.
A procession sonsisting of 200 taxis – lights on and horns blowing – leave Mudeung stadium for Geumnam Street.
Acitizens set fire to the MBC broadcasting station in retaliation for their biased reporting.
Two unarmed citizens are killed at Gwangju Station.
The bodies of the two citizens killed the day before are into a cart and taken to Geumnam Street
The Korean national anthem is broadcast from atop of Provincial Hall and signals the paratroopers to begin firing one the crowds gathered there
Demonstrators seize weapons in Hwasun and Naju shile street fights erupt in front of Provincial Hall
Citizens steal TNT from a Paratroopers withdraw from Provincial Hall to Chosun University
A jeep is driven around to appeal to citizens for Blood donations
The national flag atop of Provincial Hall is flown at half-mast along with a black ribbon.
Eight representatives from the Citizens’ Settlement Committee deliver seven demands to the Sangmudae Martial Law Headquarters.
The bodies of 23 more dead arrive at Provincial Hall.
A students’ Settlement Committee Organized a special attack unit and begins collecting weapons
A list and description of the dead is posted outside Provincial Hall.
Paratroopers shoot at a mini bus outside Juman Village in Jiwondong. 17 of the 18 passengers are killed, including two wounded who are taken away and killed in the hills behind the village.
The first Citizens’ Rally for Democracy is held. Warning leaflets are again dropped over the city by the Martial Law Forces.
Paratroopers shoot boys swimming in the reservoir at Wonjae Village. Bang Gwang Bum, a first year middle school student, was shot in the head.
Paratroopers withdrawing from Songamdong exchange fire with another Korean unit. Afterwords, the paratroopers kill some local citizens in revenge.
The Second Citizens’ Rally for Democracy is held.
Cardinal Kim Su Hwan delivers a message and 10 million won in relief money.
The Third Citizens’ rally for Democracy is held.
Out-of-office democratic figures unanimously adopt Father Kim Seong Yong’s four settlement proposals.
The students’ Settlement Committee discusses way to maintain order, provide food to citizens and clean the streets
Citizens’ Settlement Committee members perform a Death March.
The Fourth Citizens’ Rally for Democracy 15:00 The Fifth Citizens’ Rally for Democracy
Yun Sang Won, representative of the Students’ Settlement Committee, briefs foreign reporters on the situation in Gwangju
The citizens’ Army officially announces the Martial Law Forces are likely to attack in the evening. Young women and students are sent home from Provincial Hall.
Local phone service is cut off.
Martial Law Forces, led by armored vehicles, begin to enter the city.
Local phone service is cut off.
Martial Law Forces, led by armored vehicles, begin to enter the city.
Martial Law Forces, led by armored vehicles, begin to enter the city.