The June Democratic Uprising & the 1987 Constitution

Korean Political History I: Colonization, Division & the Road to Democracy

Chapter 8 · The June Democratic Uprising & the 1987 Constitution

Chapters 5 to 7 described three routes to ending or keeping a regime: a rigged election that led to a president's resignation, an assassination, and a coup. The 1987 uprising is different because the regime itself conceded. This chapter follows the events of 1987 and what they changed. My source is a single summary of the June Democratic Struggle, so I could not check its dates against other accounts and the chapter says so where it matters.

The Trigger

The movement intensified after two deaths. Park Jong-chul, a student activist, died under torture in January 1987. Lee Han-yeol, a Yonsei University student, was critically injured by a tear gas grenade on 9 June 1987 and died on 5 July.

Two Very Different Deaths The first death is described as under torture, the second as caused by a police tear gas grenade. The source names both as triggers. I did not find how the January death became public or what official explanation was given, so I do not describe that.

June 1987

Date (1987)	Event
January	Park Jong-chul dies under torture.
9 June	Lee Han-yeol is critically injured by a tear gas grenade; he dies on 5 July.
10 to 29 June	Large protests, after the military regime announces Roh Tae-woo as Chun's successor. An estimated 4 to 5 million people take part nationwide.
18 June	About 1.5 million demonstrators fill streets nationwide; police reportedly "lost control of the streets."
29 June	The June 29 Declaration accepts direct presidential elections and the release of political prisoners.

Who Took Part

Students, but also office workers, nicknamed the "necktie brigade," and ordinary citizens, in provincial cities as well as Seoul.

What Triggered the Rallies

The announcement of Roh Tae-woo as successor. It signaled that the regime would choose the next president itself, which the protesters were rejecting.

Why the Regime Yielded

The source says the regime capitulated, and that police lost control of the streets on 18 June. It does not say what the government or the army leadership decided or why, and I did not find out.

Compare With 1960 and 1980 The protest in 1960 (Chapter 5) also drew mass numbers and forced a resignation, and the 1980 protest in Gwangju (Chapter 7) was crushed. In 1987 a large, broad protest coincided with a regime that, according to the source, chose to concede. The source does not explain why the outcome differed from 1980, and the chapter offers no explanation of its own.

The 1987 Constitution and the December Election

The June 29 Declaration led to the 1987 Constitution, which established direct presidential elections and reduced presidential power. It marked the transition from the Fifth to the Sixth Republic. In December 1987 Roh Tae-woo won the presidential election with 36.6 percent of the vote, while the opposition was split between two candidates.

A Democratic Election, and a Familiar Name Roh had been announced as the regime's successor. That he then won a direct election, on a minority vote with a divided opposition, is a fact the source states and a reason not to describe the outcome as a simple victory for the protesters. I did not research the election's conduct or the names of the opposition candidates.

What I Did Not Verify I did not find the referendum on the constitution, the specific limits on presidential power, the term length, or the content of the June 29 Declaration beyond the two items above. Chun's own role in the concession, and the international context, are not covered.

Hands-On Exercises

Exercise 1

Build a timeline of 1987 from the two deaths to the June 29 Declaration, and say which step the source treats as the turning point.

→ Solution

Exercise 2

A student writes "The 1987 protests brought the opposition to power." Use the December election to correct it.

→ Solution

Exercise 3

Compare 1960, 1980 and 1987 in three sentences, using only what Chapters 5, 7 and 8 support, and name one thing you cannot explain.

→ Solution

Quick Reference

January 1987: Park Jong-chul dies under torture; 9 June: Lee Han-yeol injured (dies 5 July)
10 to 29 June: protests, an estimated 4 to 5 million people; 18 June: about 1.5 million
29 June: June 29 Declaration accepts direct presidential elections and release of political prisoners
1987 Constitution: direct elections, reduced presidential power, Fifth to Sixth Republic
December 1987: Roh Tae-woo wins with 36.6 percent; opposition split
Not covered: the regime's decision-making, the referendum, term length