[KS] Naming Gwangju

[Balazs Szalontai]

Having also studied literature (though not English literature) and also a bit of Latin, I sense at least a certain element of pejorativeness in the term "rebellion", which is more related to legitimacy than to result. Notably, Park Chung Hee consistently called his coup a revolution (see "The Country, the Revolution, and I"), whereas the Republic of China authorities in Taiwan insisted on calling the PRC leaders rebels (bandits, etc.), rather than revolutionists. From this perspective, the term "Kwangju rebellion" appears to be more critical than neutral, at least to me. "Uprising" or "resistance" might be better.
 
Balazs


________________________________
From: Tommy Vorst <tommychevorst at gmail.com>
To: koreanstudies at koreaweb.ws
Sent: Wednesday, 16 November 2011, 7:18
Subject: Re: [KS] Naming Gwangju


Coming to Korean Studies from an English Language and Literature background, I have a different perspective on the terms. "Rebellion" and "civil unrest" both imply a lack of result.  The latter term is often used by the political powers that be to minimize & denigrate the importance of citizens' action.  The former has most often meant "unsuccessful revolution."

The term "Gwangju Uprising" is accepted well enough in common parlance that there is at least one sports team going by that name.

Tommy Vorst
Yeungnam University 
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