Local historyAD 685 – 19805 events
Gwangju
Mujinju, where Gyeon Hwon first rose — city of the 1929 student independence movement and the May 18 Democratic Uprising
LERK · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source
At a glance
| Era | Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Unified Silla, Sinmun | Muju (Mujinju), a province | Province on old Baekje land |
| Late Silla | Kim Heon-chang’s revolt | Mujinju among those that joined |
| Later Three Kingdoms | Gyeon Hwon takes Mujinju (892) | Springboard for Later Baekje |
| Japanese rule | Gwangju Student Movement | Student clash; Singanhoe inquiry |
| Contemporary | May 18 Democratic Uprising | Against new military; martial-law crackdown |
The theme on the map
5 events in this theme
King Sinmun divided the realm into nine provinces (ju) and set up five secondary capitals (sogyeong), completing the provincial system of unified Silla.
Kim Heon-chang, governor of Ungcheon-ju, rebelled over his father Kim Ju-won’s lost claim to the throne and proclaimed a state named Jangan with the era name Gyeongun.
Gyeon Hwon, a Silla soldier who had seized Mujin-ju (Gwangju), made Wansan-ju (Jeonju) his capital in 900 and founded Later Baekje.
- 1929 – 1930Gwangju Student Independence Movement
Protests that began in Gwangju after a clash between Korean and Japanese students spread nationwide, the largest national movement since March First.
From 18 to 27 May 1980, in Gwangju, martial-law troops used force against citizens demanding an end to martial law and to the new military group, and many citizens were killed.
Key people
- King SinmunAD 692
Munmu's son and 31st king of Silla, who crushed Kim Heum-dol's revolt and strengthened royal power through the National Academy, the nine provinces and office-land grants
- Kim Heon-changAD 822
Son of Kim Ju-won who, citing his father's lost claim to the throne, rebelled at Ungcheon-ju and proclaimed a state called Jangan
- Gyeon HwonAD 867 – AD 936
Silla soldier from Gaeun in Sangju who founded Later Baekje at Wansan-ju in 900; deposed by his son Singeom, he defected to Goryeo
- Chun Doo-hwan1931 – 2021
11th–12th President (1980–1988), leading figure of the new military group that seized control in the December 12 incident; tried in 1996 over 12 December and 18 May
- Kim Dae-jung1924 – 2009
15th President (1998–2003), the first transfer of power to the opposition by election. Steered recovery from the currency crisis and held the first inter-Korean summit; Nobel Peace Prize 2000