The June 3 resistance movement, also known as 6.3 resistance or the movement against the Korea-Japan negotiations (
Korean: 한일협상 반대 운동, 6.3시위 or 6.3 항쟁) was initiated in June 1964 by students and citizens against the Park Chung-hee administration effort to negotiate the normalization of South Korea and Japan diplomatic relations.
In 1964, President
Park Chung-hee
Park Chung-hee (, ; 14 November 1917 – 26 October 1979) was a South Korean politician and army general who served as the dictator of South Korea from 1961 until his assassination in 1979; ruling as an unelected military strongman from 1961 ...
secretly pushed for the
Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea to normalize diplomatic relations with Japan, which had been severed since 1945 with the aim of revitalizing the Korean economy. 6.3 resistance against Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea were initiated in June 1964 by college students, ordinary citizens and non-government figures in opposition to the Park Chung-hee administration. On 3 June 1964, the Park Chung-hee administration declared martial law to suppress protests against a summit between Korea and Japan. The martial law declared at 10 p.m. on 3 June was terminated on 29 July. In the end, however, the government decided to agree with the Japanese government to push for normalization of Korea-Japan relations through the foreign ministers of Korea and Japan in Tokyo.
Background
In 1964, the South Korean government began to secretly push for negotiations between South Korea and Japan and try to reach a conclusion. Soon after, Tokyo rushed to negotiate political negotiations, and by February, the government and the ruling party announced their decision to go ahead with the basic course of negotiations with Japan in March. On 22 February 1964, the Democratic Party of Korea announced an alternative plan for negotiations between South Korea and Japan, which was confirmed by the party platform. Ignoring the trend of general public opinion, the Park Chung-hee administration was determined to give up the "
Syngman Rhee Line (Peace Line)," a lifeline for South Korean fishermen, to Japan, satisfied with the $300 million claim compensation. As the Park Chung-hee administration rushed to negotiate with Japan, opposition parties agreed on the need for an uprising and began preparatory work.
In March 1964, the government announced the schedule for negotiations between South Korea and Japan. On 6 March, 200 prominent figures, including representatives from all opposition parties and social, religious and cultural organizations, formed the "National Committee for the Combat Against Japan Indignity Diplomacy." On 9 March, non-covernment figures and various politicals gathered at the
Jongno Wedding Hall in Seoul to adopt salvation of the Nation and promise to have general rally.
Yun Posun, who was in charge of the fight committee chairman, read the declaration.
Development
Seoul National University's hunger strike
On 24 March 1964, liberal arts students of Seoul National University began a hunger strike by holding a ceremony to burn Japanese flags and a ceremony to burn a figure named
Kim Jong-pil, who joined the normalization of Korea and Japan with Park Chung-hee. At this time, they were simply suppressed, but the students regrouped and held a funeral for "national democracy" on 20 May.
This is because the name used during the Park Chung-hee administration was "national democracy." Kim Deog-ryong, then the student leader of
Seoul National University
Seoul National University (SNU; ) is a national public research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Founded in 1946, Seoul National University is largely considered the most prestigious university in South Korea; it is one of the three "S ...
, began a hunger strike by reading the declaration, and Yun Posun visited Seoul National University to encourage him.
The participation of students from other universities
Seoul National University's hunger strike irritated other students. Each college student in downtown Seoul took to the streets and began protesting, shouting for the overthrow of the Park Chung-hee administration. As students from
Korea University
Korea University (KU, ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea, established in 1905. The university is included as one of the SKY universities, a popular acronym referring to Korea's three most prestigious universities.
The ...
,
Chung-Ang University,
Yonsei University, Seoul National University Law School and Seoul National University took the lead in demonstrations on June 2, student activists in Seoul responded and protested in various places. Students staged street rallies as of noon on June 3 as Republican Chairman Kim Jong-pil traveled to Japan for a summit on normalizing diplomatic ties between South Korea and Japan in early June.
In other universities, students with anti-Japanese consciousness started to fight against Japan by burning
Flag of Japan
The national flag of Japan is a rectangular white banner bearing a crimson-red circle at its center. This flag is officially called the , but is more commonly known in Japan as the . It embodies the country's sobriquet: the Land of the Rising S ...
and
Prime Minister of Japan scarecrows.
At that time, Seoul National University's Nationalist Comparison Research Society played a leading role, and it was possible because there was a communication network of activist students nationwide.
The protests spreabeyond hunger strikes to street protests, and college students, citizens and opposition parties took to the streets carrying the national flag, shouting, "The pro-Japanese Park Chung-hee regime should withdraw its diplomatic normalization with Japan," "Shame on you after 20 years of liberation," and "Stop the government that ignores the people."
Street demonstration
At noon on 3 June, 12,000 students in Seoul poured into the streets and went downtown, colliding with police everywhere. As seven to eight thousand university students flocked to the central office, the
Sejongno area was thrown into disorder and chaos. The barricade in front of the central office has already collapsed and police have built a cordon in front of
Tongui-dong
Tongui-dong is a '' dong'', neighbourhood of Jongno-gu in Seoul, South Korea
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and sharing a Korea ...
, which goes up to
Blue House. Students from Seoul National University left the school around 4 p.m. Some students were exhausted while walking, and exhausted students began to protest with stretchers. They arrived in front of the central government building with applause from demonstrators and citizens. They also stood at the head of the demonstration team and withdrew to school in the face of a police tear gas attack. The protest was the start of the June resistance movement. Korea university president of the student body Kim Jae-Ha is appointed to 6.3 resistance movement chairperson, Park Jung-Hoon and
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak (; ; ; born 19 December 1941) is a South Korean businessman and politician who served as the 10th president of South Korea from 2008 to 2013. Before his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and the ma ...
helped him. Some 15,000 people and 15,000 others from 18 universities in Seoul flocked to the streets to stage violent protests and even occupy then
Korea National Assembly Proceeding Building.
Result
The proclamation of martial law
As student demonstrations became violent, the Park Chung-hee administration declared martial law throughout the city on 3 June at 6:30 local time. The government dispatched police to crack down the demonstrators. And with the declaration of martial law, the government ordered a ban and crackdown on media censorship and university closures. This led to 1,120 arrests of students, politicians and journalists who led the protests at the time.
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak (; ; ; born 19 December 1941) is a South Korean businessman and politician who served as the 10th president of South Korea from 2008 to 2013. Before his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and the ma ...
,
Lee Jae-oh
Lee Jae-oh ( ko, link=no, 이재오, RR: ''Yi Jae-o'', Hanja: 李在五; born 11 January 1945) is a conservative South Korean politician of the New Party 2018. He was member of the National Assembly for Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul, and served as Mini ...
,
Sohn Hak-kyu
Sohn Hak-kyu (born 22 November 1947) is a South Korean politician and the former governor of Gyeonggi-do, the most populous province in Korea. He became a politician in 1996 as a congressman of Grand National Party, and became a governor of Gy ...
and 348 people served six months in the
Seodaemun Prison due to rebellion and sedition. Park Chung-hee issued a statement to the nation, appealing for the need to normalize diplomatic relations with Japan as the uprising intensified. Protests were suppressed on 28 July and martial law was lifted the next day on 29 July.
Treaty on Basic Relations
Since then, the Park Chung-hee administration has continued consultations between South Korea and Japan, and in December 1965 South Korea and Japan finally agreed to normalize diplomatic relations through
Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea, resulting in the restoration of diplomatic relations 20 years after
National Liberation Day of Korea.
The main contents of the Treaty on Basic Relations between Korea and Japan "Confirm that all treaties and agreements signed between the
Korean Empire
The Korean Empire () was a Korean monarchical state proclaimed in October 1897 by Emperor Gojong of the Joseon dynasty. The empire stood until Japan's annexation of Korea in August 1910.
During the Korean Empire, Emperor Gojong oversaw the Gwa ...
and
Empire of Japan before 22 August 1910, are already invalid. Article 2 and "We confirm that the Republic of Korea government is the only legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula." In Article 2, the English version of "already invalid" is described as "already null and void," on which the two countries' interpretations of it differ. South Korea says the annexation itself is illegal, while Japan claims the annexation treaty was legal but was nullified as of the time of liberation. Article 3 and Article 4 which recognize bilateral diplomatic relations.
[{{Cite book, title=냉전과 한일관계(Cold War and Korea-Japan relations), last=Won-Duk, first=Lee, publisher=국제관계연구회(International relations researcher), year=2003, isbn=89-324-6094-9, location=ko, pages=180–182]
Major Participants
*
Yun Posun
*
Chang Taek-sang
Chang Taek-sang or Jang Taek-sang (October 22, 1893 – August 1, 1969) was a Korean Independence activist and South Korean policeman and politician. He was the third prime minister of South Korea and 1st Minister of Foreign Affairs.Yahu! Baekg ...
*
Lee Myung-bak
Lee Myung-bak (; ; ; born 19 December 1941) is a South Korean businessman and politician who served as the 10th president of South Korea from 2008 to 2013. Before his presidency, he was the CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction, and the ma ...
*
Lee Jae-oh
Lee Jae-oh ( ko, link=no, 이재오, RR: ''Yi Jae-o'', Hanja: 李在五; born 11 January 1945) is a conservative South Korean politician of the New Party 2018. He was member of the National Assembly for Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul, and served as Mini ...
*
Sohn Hak-kyu
Sohn Hak-kyu (born 22 November 1947) is a South Korean politician and the former governor of Gyeonggi-do, the most populous province in Korea. He became a politician in 1996 as a congressman of Grand National Party, and became a governor of Gy ...
*
Choi Jang-jip
*
Kim Chi-ha
*
Ham Seok-heon
*
Kim Deog-ryong
Kim or KIM may refer to:
Names
* Kim (given name)
* Kim (surname)
** Kim (Korean surname)
*** Kim family (disambiguation), several dynasties
**** Kim family (North Korea), the rulers of North Korea since Kim Il-sung in 1948
** Kim, Vietnamese f ...
*
Kim Hong-il
*
Kim Young-sam
*
Chang Chun-ha
Chang Chun-ha (장준하, 張俊河, August 27, 1918 in Uiju County – August 17, 1975 in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province) was a Korean independence and democracy activist who later became a journalist in South Korea.
Military career
When Korea ...
*
Lee Beom-seok
*
Kang Won-yong
References
External links
Korea Democracy FoundationNortheast Asian History Foundation
1964 in South Korea
Japan–South Korea relations
Anti-Japanese sentiment in South Korea
Protests in South Korea
20th-century revolutions
South Korean democracy movements
Student protests in South Korea
Conflicts in 1964