Chwe, Michael. Funeral for Lee Han-yeol at Sinchon Rotary, Seoul, South Korea. Photo. 1987, Chwe.net.
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In 1987, a mass pro-democracy movement overthrew the military regime of South Korean President Chun Doo-hwan. After years of military rule, tensions flared when the government announced Chun's handpicked successor without democratic elections, which they had previously promised to hold. Public outrage grew following the torture and death of student activist Park Jong-chul. Massive protests erupted in June, with millions of students, union members, and other citizens demanding direct presidential elections and democratic reforms. The government initially responded with repression, but the scale of the movement and international pressure forced the regime to back down. On June 29, the government announced major reforms, including the introduction of direct presidential elections. The movement marked a turning point in South Korea’s political history, leading to the establishment of a democratic constitution and ending decades of military dictatorship.
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