Kim Dae Jung on Gwangju Uprising

Kim Dae Jung's position on the Gwangju Uprising has been consistently one of condemnation for the military's violent suppression of the pro-democracy demonstrators. As a leading opposition politician, his arrest, alongside other leaders, on suspicion of instigating the protests on May 17, 1980, preceded and arguably fueled the intensity of the uprising in Gwangju. Following the crackdown, he was ultimately convicted and sentenced to death by the military regime for his role in inciting the demonstrations, despite having been imprisoned when they began. His sentence was later commuted following international intervention.

Even after achieving the presidency, the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement remained a significant marker of his political trajectory and his commitment to democratization. He was the first president, following the transition to democracy, who had been directly implicated in the events, having been sentenced to death for his alleged involvement. Upon taking office, he pardoned the former authoritarian leaders, including the one responsible for the massacre, in the name of national reconciliation, reflecting his broader philosophy.