Date 16–20 October 1979 Methods Protest | Goals Democratization | |
Location Busan, Masan, South Korea Causes Yushin dictatorship of Park Chung-hee Result Several civilian and military casualties | ||
The Bu-Ma Democratic Protests (Hangul: 부마민주항쟁; Hanja: 釜馬民主抗爭; RR: Buma Minju Hangjaeng; or Hangul: 부마민중항쟁; Hanja: 釜馬民衆抗爭; RR: Buma Minjung Hangjaeng) against the Yushin regime (유신정권), took place between 16 and 20 October 1979 in Busan and Masan (now Changwon), South Korea). Students from Busan University began demonstrations calling for the abolition of the Yushin regime. On 17 October the protests grew to include citizens and spread to Masan on 18 and 19 October.
Contents
President Park Chung-hee declared martial law on October 18 and referred 66 people to military court. On 20 October, Park invoked the Garrison Act. The army was mobilized, and 59 civilians were brought to military court.
Background
The 1978 National Assembly election was held in December and was influenced by the government. Nevertheless, the ruling Republican Party was defeated by the New Democratic Party.
In August 1979, female workers of the YH Trading Company (YH무역주식회사) performed a lockout at the headquarters of the New Democratic Party. Because of the lockout, the ruling Republican Party expelled Kim Young-sam from the National Assembly, leading to the resignation of all opposition party members from the National Assembly.
Progress
The protests history is as follows:
Influence
This incident incited conflict inside the government, which led in turn to an early ending of the Yushin regime that was maintained by an emergency measure. The protest influenced the Gwangju Uprising and the June Democracy Movement.
Aftermath
Democracy Park was built in 1999, and a monument was erected to honor the participants of the protests.