Before the spring comes, there is a cold winter. We have to go through the bone-chilling weather in order for the flowers to bloom. Same was true for the South Korea through 1970's to late 80's. Many people with different occupation had fought for their freedom. My aunt was one of them.
At that time, she was a college student studying education at a national university. As a student of education, as a person who would be a teacher in the future, as a person who wanted her students to live in a better democratized society, she participated in the pro-democracy movement.
"I wanted my children to live in a better place, where freedom of speech is guaranteed, where everyone could choose their own belief, and where truly democratic society is settled down." She started with an even tone. "We could not even tell our parents what we were doing. Back then, it was an illegal act. Who would be delighted to know that their daughter is participating in such movement? It was a harsh and difficult path to walk through."
Within few minutes of conversation, I could see what the situation would have been like. "We sometimes joked at each other saying that living through this very day is a huge luck. But compared to other cities across the nation, Seoul was relatively safe. We had all the newspaper companies and broadcasting stations in Seoul that could spread out the news. As you know, the democracy movements in Kwangju had thousands hurt and hundreds beaten or shoot to death. But relatively few people knew about it at that time because the entire media outlet was controlled by central force."
Just like the movies we saw about the pro-democracy movement, these young men and women were fighting against something big, to keep the value that they believed in. "One day, I saw this drama portraying about university student's pro-democracy movement. In the scene, they were exchanging the notes that stated the time and place to gather. But that was not true. We were obliged to not leave a trace about that information because the police could find it out and track us."
"I even got expelled from school." She continued with a devastating tone. "But I just could not stop there. Apart from the people who fought for democracy, there were also people who fought for legitimate labor standard and my group joined them. We were hiding in the jogyesa temple and there, my mother and my young sister-which is your mother-, came to persuade me to come home. I couldn't be more shameful. I felt so sorry to make my family worry about myself."
As soon as she said that, I could see the tears in her eyes. I could tell that she had been through the tough times. In the end, when President Chun Doo Hwan's era was over, my aunt was able to go back to school. The school had provided a special readmission period for those who were involved in the movement. Now, she is a beloved wife, mother, sister, and a teacher.
"I am not ashamed of my decision back at the time. I believe, because I had been through that, I am able to be proud of my job, which is not only teaching them how to read and write but also to lead the young children into the right direction."
I could not agree more with her on the fact that owing to all those people who suffered from unfair pressure, we are living in a society where 'I' am the center of my life, where 'I' am capable of having my own belief, and where 'I' am able to express my own ideas and feelings.
We have so many heroes around the world. From Martin Luther King who led the civil rights movement to Gandhi who led to the independence of India. But to me, my aunt was my hero, a bright young woman who was able to say 'No' when everyone was saying 'Yes' to unfair treatment.
No comments:
Post a Comment