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It's been 29 years since south #korea first free and fair election.
Today is the 43rd anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising in gwangju that was crushed by the korean military who murdered and raped women, children, and the elderly.
Even #Yoon, best-friend of #biden and #kishida is forced to pay homage to them today as the judgement of history and korean public opinion has shifted decisively in support of democracy in korea in the 8-9 years since I've lived here.
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230518004200315?section=national/politics
Last year #Yoon visited gwangju to sing the national anthem and praise the pro-democracy forces who were raped, murdered and mutilated there. Some of whom are still buried in shallow graves in the mountains around the city after having been incinerated in military garbage incinerators
The body of a 3 year old girl lies in the unnamed martyrs grave
#Biden carefully timed state visit to avoid being in country on the day of the memorial service.
If #biden were to have arrived 2 days earlier he would be practically forced to attend memorial service (since no korean political figure can be seen not attending).
Biden's attendance would also lift the embargo where journalists in english speaking media refuse to explain the origins of korean democracy.
Why doesn't it happen? Simple answer is: they just don't want americans to find out what their east-asia policy actually consists of.
Investigations reveal the units, under the command of US 4-star general John Adams Wickham, carried on after the massacre finishing off the wounded and disposing of their bodies.
https://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/1092181.html
#korea 2 years ago. president yoon was defending the US-backed military dictator who orchestrated the massacre (which had been approved by president Carter).
Even as yoon was forced to apologize, he couldn't quite manage it without mocking the korean people at the same time.
#gwangju #democracy
https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20211110003200315
Right wing politics in korea is rife with gwangju massacre denialism:
In rare instances when the liberal press in western countries report on the topic in depth, it's usually pearl clutching around censorship (of massacre denialists).
Never calls for thorough criminal investigations with the power to impose prison sentences.
Not a single murderer is in prison. Those who yet live are all at large in korea and the united states.
NYT article reproduced in asian press to avoid paywall:
If such an investigation were to take place it would have to look in to the US embassy, the US state department and the whitehouse.
Jimmy Carter, General Wickham, Ambassador Gleysteen, and leading figures in the US defence and policy establishment would have to be investigated.
Not to mention many leading figures in the US Imperial Army in Korea (ROKA).