Busan–Masan Democratic Protests

Students and citizens in Busan and Masan protested against the Yushin system; the government imposed martial law and a garrison decree.

In August 1979 women workers of YH Trading staging a sit-in at the New Democratic Party headquarters were forcibly removed, and in October party leader Kim Young-sam was expelled from the National Assembly.

On 16 October students in Busan began demonstrating for an end to Yushin; citizens joined and protests spread to Masan on the 18th. The government declared martial law in Busan and a garrison decree in Masan and Changwon. Conflict within the regime over how to respond led to the October 26 incident. 16 October became a national commemoration day in 2019.