@article{ART003326925},
author={Kim, A Ram},
title={Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges},
journal={The Review of Korean History},
issn={1225-133X},
year={2026},
number={161},
pages={7-40}
TY - JOUR
AU - Kim, A Ram
TI - Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges
JO - The Review of Korean History
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 161
PB - The Historical Society Of Korea
SP - 7
EP - 40
SN - 1225-133X
AB - By examining the development of the “struggle for memory” and the issue of reconciliation surrounding the 1980 Sabuk Uprising, this study demonstrates that the memory and historicization of state violence cannot be concluded through simple reconciliation or closure. Under the media censorship and political denial of the military regime, the Sabuk Uprising was long stigmatized as a “riot,” and the reality of state violence remained concealed. However, since the 2000s, through the testimonies and activism of miner victims, the truths of state violence—including torture and illegal detention—have gradually surfaced, confirming the state’s responsibility. In this process, new conflicts have emerged regarding the historicization and memory of the event; in particular, the “lynching incident” that occurred during the uprising and the subsequent discourse on “reconciliation” have become central points of contention.
Recently, the film 1980 Sabuk has raised public awareness and brought the uprising into the political spotlight, yet it fails to fully encapsulate the complexities of memory and reconciliation. The retrials and restoration of honor for the victims are still ongoing, and an official state apology has yet to be issued. Meanwhile, efforts to remember the uprising continue at the local level through films, educational activities, and commemorative projects. The writing of the history of the Sabuk Uprising cannot be completed simply through legal acquittals or formal acts of reconciliation. Acknowledging the limitations of reaching an absolute truth, the very process of continuously recording and remembering the human lives and suffering within is the true essence of history. By re-examining the Sabuk Uprising from various perspectives, this study calls for the state’s accountability for its past violence and seeks to provide a reflective opportunity for our society to establish a productive relationship with its tragic past.
KW - Sabuk Uprising;Coal mine;struggle for memory;Chun Doo-hwan’s military junta;unresolved historical injustices;state violence;reconciliation;historicization
DO -
UR -
ER -
Kim, A Ram. (2026). Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges. The Review of Korean History, 161, 7-40.
Kim, A Ram. 2026, "Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges", The Review of Korean History, no.161, pp.7-40.
Kim, A Ram "Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges" The Review of Korean History 161 pp.7-40 (2026) : 7.
Kim, A Ram. Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges. 2026; 161 : 7-40.
Kim, A Ram. "Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges" The Review of Korean History no.161(2026) : 7-40.
Kim, A Ram. Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges. The Review of Korean History, 161, 7-40.
Kim, A Ram. Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges. The Review of Korean History. 2026; 161 7-40.
Kim, A Ram. Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges. 2026; 161 : 7-40.
Kim, A Ram. "Contested Memories of the 1980 Sabuk Uprising: Significance and Challenges" The Review of Korean History no.161(2026) : 7-40.
