Assignment 4: YKK

This is a picture of the college student Han Yul Lee during the June Democratic Uprising in 1987. While participating in the demonstration, he was shot in the head by a police riot gun and died in the arms of a fellow student. The entire demonstration, involving thousands of college students, was a protest demanding the right to vote directly for president. Back then, the dominant political party had kept a de-facto dictator in the presidency of South Korea’s “democracy.” Random disappearances and jailings, as well as regular brutality and corruption, were common in this military regime. Fear was a cold piece of ice constantly running down one’s back. But once news of the student’s death spread across the country, the people were inflamed - how could you shoot a kid to kill, when you could simply stun? It was a turning point that resulted in the institution of popular election of the president and ensured the establishment of a real democracy in South Korea. The story of this man is a story of a whole people’s courage and conviction that led to real change. It is a story of hope - despite the overwhelming numbers of anonymous deaths, people were still hopeful and willing to accept the possibility of death to create a change they thought was necessary. Sometimes, in this world of safety, I can't see past worries that I wouldn't think twice about next week. Seeing this picture reminds me of how grateful I should be, but it also inspires me to dream and understand what real courage is - sure, attending a new school and putting yourself out there takes courage, but being willing to die for something requires a whole other level of understanding and character.