00:02:02:10 - 00:02:05:03 I still remember it clearly, 1998. 00:02:05:19 - 00:02:08:04 I was 18 years old at the time. 00:02:08:14 - 00:02:13:00 However, I was already working. I worked as a ticketing staff at a cinema in Buaran. 00:02:14:21 - 00:02:19:11 One day, I remember it was the 13th, 00:02:20:04 - 00:02:24:09 I arrived early because Joni, the cinema owner, 00:02:24:09 - 00:02:27:04 told me that a new film would be coming in. 00:02:27:04 - 00:02:30:03 It was a highly anticipated film. 00:02:30:16 - 00:02:33:15 That day, not many people were out of their houses. 00:02:33:22 - 00:02:38:15 Tensions between the students and the authorities were escalating. 00:02:40:24 - 00:02:45:03 On that day, there were about 10 people in the cinema, 00:02:45:24 - 00:02:50:22 which I could understand, given that we were in the midst of an economic crisis. People were certainly hesitant to spend money. 00:02:50:22 - 00:02:53:10 Afterward, I went up to Joni's office. 00:02:53:10 - 00:02:56:13 When I opened the door, Joni immediately shouted out. 00:02:56:19 - 00:03:01:03 "Wan, get ready. Tomorrow, there will be a lot of viewers." 00:03:01:14 - 00:03:09:13 Then he said, "I'm sure of it because this is Titanic, from Hollywood. It has plenty of erotic scenes." 00:03:10:06 - 00:03:12:06 I simply laughed. 00:03:13:00 - 00:03:18:01 Joni mentioned that the film reel would be delivered from Yogya Plaza, 00:03:18:15 - 00:03:22:20 located in Klender, which was only about 3 kilometers from Buaran. 00:03:23:08 - 00:03:25:22 After we finished, I returned downstairs. 00:03:26:15 - 00:03:30:19 Upon reaching the lower floor, I noticed four soldiers standing in front of the cinema entrance. 00:03:30:19 - 00:03:34:09 They were large in build, and their crew-cut haircuts were the typical short, military style. 00:03:34:17 - 00:03:36:10 I attempted to approach them. 00:03:37:04 - 00:03:39:05 "Tickets for Titanic tomorrow, is that right?" 00:03:39:12 - 00:03:42:24 "Oh no, we’re on patrol," one of them replied. 00:03:44:14 - 00:03:48:03 But why are there so many of them today, and why are they carrying weapons? 00:03:48:12 - 00:03:52:07 “Yes, it's because of the protestors.” 00:03:52:16 - 00:03:57:23 I was curious, then I asked, "I heard that four people were killed, is that true, sir?" 00:03:59:01 - 00:04:04:08 "Who said that? Only one person died—one of our soldiers." 00:04:05:20 - 00:04:07:17 "How did that happen?" 00:04:08:03 - 00:04:12:13 The soldier responded, "It happened, because there was an anarchist group that infiltrated." 00:04:14:03 - 00:04:20:04 I noticed that their expressions became more serious. I had no intention of pursuing my questions further. 00:04:21:01 - 00:04:23:03 I decided it would be best to leave them. 00:04:23:23 - 00:04:29:12 "Please, let me know if you want to pick up Titanic tickets later," I said. 00:04:30:18 - 00:04:37:01 One of them replied, "No, thank you. Tomorrow we’ll watch it at Yogya Plaza. Our members will gather there." 00:04:37:23 - 00:04:44:11 I didn’t fully understand the meaning behind his words, but I simply nodded. 00:04:59:03 - 00:05:03:11 The next day, as Joni had predicted, the cinema was quite busy. 00:05:04:06 - 00:05:06:05 There were approximately 20 viewers in attendance. 00:05:06:24 - 00:05:10:15 When the first film reel arrived, we began the screening immediately. 00:05:11:05 - 00:05:17:08 I took a moment to watch the opening minutes from the projection room, where my colleague, Rojali, was operating the projector. 00:05:18:07 - 00:05:24:08 Afterward, I quickly left the projection room and positioned myself outside, intending to wait until 1:45 p.m., 00:05:24:13 - 00:05:29:08 so that I could immediately deliver the film reel to Rojali upon its arrival. 00:05:30:04 - 00:05:34:11 However, by 2:00 p.m., the film reel had yet to arrive. 00:05:34:20 - 00:05:38:15 The audience had started to grow restless. 00:05:38:22 - 00:05:42:01 I decided to go up to Joni’s office to inform him. 00:05:43:08 - 00:05:50:11 However, he informed me that he had received a report from the film courier in Klender, who stated that Yogya Plaza was currently in a state of chaos. 00:05:50:24 - 00:05:55:22 I remember very clearly that, at the time, there was a large window in Joni's office. 00:05:56:06 - 00:06:02:18 From a distance, we could see black smoke billowing and expanding, suggestive of a fire. 00:06:03:20 - 00:06:06:12 I noticed Joni becoming increasingly restless. 00:06:06:12 - 00:06:08:00 I immediately returned to the screening room, 00:06:08:03 - 00:06:11:12 and found that some of the audience members had already left. 00:06:12:07 - 00:06:19:11 I informed them that there was unrest in Klender, and all of them left the cinema 00:06:19:24 - 00:06:23:08 I standing at the edge of the road, I took a moment to enjoy the cigarette. 00:06:24:08 - 00:06:27:19 I glanced down the street and noticed a group of people approaching. 00:06:28:01 - 00:06:34:19 As they drew nearer, I observed that they were carrying wooden sticks, and some even had weapons. 00:06:35:07 - 00:06:40:01 I immediately ran. I closed all the doors. 00:06:40:12 - 00:06:42:20 And then we hid in the projectionist's room. 00:06:42:20 - 00:06:45:18 Rojali turned off all the lamps. 00:06:46:18 - 00:06:53:05 Rojali, Joni, and I are hiding beneath the projection booth. 00:06:54:21 - 00:06:56:16 However, suddenly… 00:06:56:16 - 00:07:00:07 Bang! Bang! Bang! The noise came from ahead. 00:07:00:16 - 00:07:05:19 God! I will never forget that day. I was overcome with panic. 00:07:06:09 - 00:07:12:18 The sharp crack of wood striking the gate, the stones thrown against the roof, and the sound of gunfire. 00:07:55:15 - 00:08:01:20 The next morning, around 5 a.m., we summoned the courage to venture outside. 00:08:02:08 - 00:08:05:12 None of us had dared to sleep. 00:08:06:03 - 00:08:10:24 Upon reaching the parking area, we found that Joni’s motorcycle had been completely destroyed. 00:08:11:10 - 00:08:15:02 Without hesitation, he hailed a passing taxi and left. 00:08:15:09 - 00:08:17:08 Rojali, too, immediately left Buaran. 00:08:17:13 - 00:08:21:01 Fortunately, my own motorcycle was still intact in the rear parking lot. 00:08:21:07 - 00:08:23:18 I immediately left the parking lot. 00:08:24:11 - 00:08:29:24 As I was on my way, it dawned on me that, in order to reach home, I would have to pass by Yogya Plaza. 00:08:29:24 - 00:08:33:21 A sense of confusion and fear gripped me. Should I turn back? 00:08:34:03 - 00:08:37:01 At that moment, I considered that it was still early in the day. 00:08:37:01 - 00:08:40:13 I thought that there would likely be no demonstrations. I decided to continue on my way. 00:08:40:16 - 00:08:43:18 However, when I reached the front of Yogya Plaza, you won’t believe what I saw. 00:08:43:18 - 00:08:45:24 It was devastating, 00:08:46:10 - 00:08:48:09 all the buildings were severely damaged. 00:08:48:16 - 00:08:50:00 The area was scattered with debris, 00:08:50:05 - 00:08:53:02 and the remnants showed clear signs of having been scorched by fire. 00:08:54:10 - 00:08:56:13 I’m circling the plaza slowly. 00:08:56:13 - 00:08:58:11 As I reached the rear of the plaza, 00:08:58:19 - 00:09:00:17 I was struck by a distinct and unsettling odor. 00:09:00:22 - 00:09:03:13 It was unmistakably the scent of something burning, 00:09:04:03 - 00:09:06:08 resembling the foul smell of charred flesh. 00:09:06:17 - 00:09:08:21 As I approached the entrance, 00:09:09:01 - 00:09:12:24 I stopped and observed intently, 00:09:13:22 - 00:09:17:23 scrutinizing the scene with wide eyes in stunned disbelief. 00:09:18:16 - 00:09:21:20 It was then that I noticed a piece of human feet and head. 00:09:21:20 - 00:09:23:08 Damn! 00:09:29:10 - 00:09:31:14 Imagine, I truly witnessed it. 00:09:31:14 - 00:09:35:01 It was charred, as if freshly burned, 00:09:35:05 - 00:09:37:18 with faint traces of bone visible. 00:09:38:23 - 00:09:42:04 I received information that when people entered the plaza, 00:09:42:17 - 00:09:47:02 some of them had locked the doors and brought gasoline with them. 00:09:47:13 - 00:09:50:24 There were 400 people burned alive in the Plaza. 00:09:51:12 - 00:09:52:16 And do you know? 00:09:52:16 - 00:09:54:04 My neighbor informed me, 00:09:54:11 - 00:09:57:07 that those who set the plaza on fire were in a red truck, 00:09:57:10 - 00:10:00:04 and had crew-cut hairstyles. 00:10:00:12 - 00:10:02:15 Damn! 00:11:07:15 - 00:11:12:12 I have lived and grew up in Wolsan-dong since 1957. 00:11:13:11 - 00:11:21:06 I distinctly remember that—at that time—I worked as a ticketing staff at a cinema located on Chongjang-ro. 00:11:21:20 - 00:11:27:22 By 1980, I had been working there for three years. 00:11:29:13 - 00:11:41:10 Every weekend, I worked from midday until late at night, stationed in a small booth where I issued tickets to those coming to watch a movie. 00:11:42:10 - 00:11:46:18 However, on that particular Saturday, I decided to take a leave of absence from work. 00:11:47:05 - 00:11:52:07 I went to Mudeung Mountain, as the weather that day was exceptionally clear. 00:11:53:12 - 00:12:00:08 From a distance, I witnessed a procession of military vehicles entering Gwangju. 00:12:15:19 - 00:12:23:12 Honestly, I didn't fully understand the situation at that time, nor did I wish to. 00:12:24:03 - 00:12:31:08 I actually think it's a blessing that I don't have more vivid memories of those incidents. 00:12:32:10 - 00:12:38:09 Had I done so, I might not have been able to continue working at the cinema for as long as I did. 00:12:39:05 - 00:12:48:20 Unlike some of my friends, they were never able to watch a war film, no matter how good it was. 00:12:51:07 - 00:12:55:02 After taking a leave of absence, I returned to work as usual. 00:12:55:14 - 00:13:03:20 At that time, the film being screened was Rocky II, and approximately a quarter of the seats in the cinema were occupied. 00:13:05:21 - 00:13:15:22 However, about thirty minutes into the film, I noticed people running frantically outside the cinema. 00:13:16:10 - 00:13:21:21 Some of them ran into the building, seeking shelter. 00:13:22:09 - 00:13:32:03 Many of them were limping, their faces covered in blood, and their bodies covered in wounds. 00:13:33:10 - 00:13:38:13 I stood inside the ticket booth, feeling confused and overwhelmed. 00:13:38:24 - 00:13:43:22 I really had no idea what was happening. 00:13:44:06 - 00:13:50:15 One of them closed the door and locked it, then instructed me to hide. 00:13:51:23 - 00:13:58:16 Their blood slowly dripped onto the seats and the red carpet of the cinema. 00:14:00:01 - 00:14:06:06 I hesitated, unsure whether the stains needed to be cleaned or not. 00:14:07:23 - 00:14:20:15 Faintly, the sound of gunfire echoed from outside the cinema, followed by the unmistakable noise of hundreds of footsteps, loud and thunderous. 00:14:21:00 - 00:14:26:03 "They are soldiers from Seoul," one of them shouted. 00:14:26:17 - 00:14:32:15 Immediately, everyone hid under their seats. 00:14:32:22 - 00:14:39:12 I lowered my head and looked toward the six vacant seats in the back. 00:14:39:21 - 00:14:46:22 Those seats had once been used by Japanese soldiers to control the movie screenings. 00:14:47:13 - 00:14:51:15 After a moment of silence, I became lost in thought. 00:14:53:22 - 00:14:58:17 “Are all the soldiers inherently evil?” 00:15:01:20 - 00:15:09:24 I thought of my wife and child, and a deep concern for their safety overwhelmed me. 00:15:10:10 - 00:15:20:02 I rushed to the office and called my brother, who was in Yosu, asking him to take my child out of Gwangju. 00:15:20:22 - 00:15:27:05 However, before I could fully explain the situation, the call was abruptly disconnected. 00:15:27:14 - 00:15:31:08 We were unable to contact anyone. 00:15:31:20 - 00:15:35:07 We were completely isolated. 00:15:53:01 - 00:15:56:11 On that day, I didn't dare to go to work. 00:15:56:22 - 00:16:07:10 People said the cinema had been repurposed as a gathering place for the local residents and students involved in the protests. 00:16:08:01 - 00:16:17:22 Meanwhile, we were trapped at home, hoping that the provisions in our refrigerator would suffice until the unrest eventually calmed. 00:16:19:11 - 00:16:25:01 I could hear the sound of tanks approaching our house from nearby. 00:16:25:05 - 00:16:29:13 My wife quickly closed all the curtains. 00:16:30:10 - 00:16:35:01 Our two-year-old child, overcome with fear and started crying. 00:16:36:08 - 00:16:49:00 He could not understand that the sound, which had once been a familiar, playful noise in the afternoons, now resonated with such terrifying intensity. 00:16:50:07 - 00:16:59:20 After a while, we heard the sound of running footsteps and the heavy thuds of bodies leaping across our roof. 00:17:00:03 - 00:17:06:01 I was forced to cover my child's mouth to silence his cries. 00:17:07:23 - 00:17:13:10 Through the gap in the door, I saw the soldiers transporting the injured onto trucks. 00:17:14:03 - 00:17:22:07 They claimed the wounded were being taken somewhere, though I had no idea where that might be 00:17:22:20 - 00:17:29:15 It might have been a nearby hospital. However, if it were a military hospital, it wouldn't have been a good sign. 00:17:30:16 - 00:17:38:23 A few months ago, I vividly remember that we had been asked to go there and show a movie. 00:17:39:13 - 00:17:50:09 The atmosphere was oppressive and cold, a stark contrast to the warmth of this city of light. 00:18:16:09 - 00:18:19:02 Our food supplies had run out. 00:18:20:05 - 00:18:26:18 After a night filled with the incessant sound of gunfire, today was completely silent. 00:18:27:16 - 00:18:34:02 I gathered my courage and went outside, slowly walking around in search of food. 00:18:35:05 - 00:18:48:16 The city center was eerily quiet, and I was uncertain whether the money in my pocket would hold any value in such a dire situation. 00:18:48:22 - 00:18:57:16 Several buildings were packed with people, and their anguished cries echoed through the air. 00:18:57:24 - 00:19:02:23 They cried until they had no more tears. 00:19:04:04 - 00:19:10:02 In some areas, the smell of ginkgo fruits hung heavily in the air. 00:19:10:11 - 00:19:19:11 The scent reminded me of the ginkgo fruits I had stepped on one morning. 00:19:19:20 - 00:19:24:15 There were not just one, but hundreds scattered across the ground. 00:19:26:24 - 00:19:36:06 I decided to go to the cinema to ensure that my workplace had not been destroyed. 00:19:36:23 - 00:19:44:17 I saw several coffins placed near the cinema building. 00:19:45:08 - 00:19:47:24 However, I was confused. 00:19:49:17 - 00:19:56:03 Why were the bodies wrapped in large national flags on top of the coffins? 00:19:56:22 - 00:20:01:12 Wasn’t it the state that had caused their deaths? 00:20:03:04 - 00:20:11:12 But can those soldiers, who are responsible for these incidents, truly be seen as members of the nation?