E2024-G096

Journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter: Showing the May 18 Democratic Uprising to the World

Narrative

The May 18 Democratic Uprising saw ordinary citizens rise against the oppressive military regime, a story that struggled to pierce the veil of global ignorance until a brave journalist, Jürgen Hinzpeter, took it upon himself to expose the truth. Hinzpeter, a correspondent for Germany's ARD, knew the power of storytelling. Influenced by Paul Courtright, who first introduced him to the uprising's horrors, Hinzpeter embarked on a perilous journey to Gwangju. Armed with his camera and unyielding determination, he documented the brutal reality faced by the citizens. His work, a poignant glimpse into the uprising, would later be immortalized in the film "A Taxi Driver," a cinematic depiction of the vehicle protests that were a crucial part of the uprising. In his mission to unveil the truth, Hinzpeter told the stories of the future South Korean presidents, Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam, who were pivotal actors in South Korea's democratic movement. The legacy of Hinzpeter's courageous reporting is honored through the Hinzpeter International Reporting Award, administrated by the May 18 Memorial Foundation. Through the documentary "Pureun nun ui mokgyeokja" (Blue-Eyed Witness), Hinzpeter's story and the May 18 Democratic Uprising remain etched in history—a testament to the power of truth and the indomitable spirit of those who dare to tell it.