Former student activist vows to remove legacy of dictatorship.

(From The Korea Herald)

By Kim So-young A major in Korean literature and poetic hopeful, Woo Sang-ho spent his early days in campus writing poems and discussing literature with other art lovers.

But his quest for literature failed to completely distract him from the military dictatorship of President Chun Doo-hwan in the 1980s, during which period his friends were arrested, drafted into the military and killed while fighting for democracy.

"I had the shelter of literature so I didn't engage in student activism at first," said Woo, now a lawmaker of the ruling Uri Party. Many political analysts are carefully watching Woo and other dissidents like him who have a history of protesting against the establishment. "I couldn't free myself from the lingering memories of the 1980 civil uprising in Gwangju," Woo said, referring to a military crackdown on protests in the southwestern city which left more than 200 people dead.

In June 1987, as student council leader of Seoul's Yonsei University, he masterminded a nationwide demonstration to demand democracy and free elections. The campaign, which brought more than 5 million people onto the streets, resulted in the fall of Chun's military government and the introduction of direct elections. While that victory is considered by most Koreans a milestone for the country's leap toward democracy, Woo's memories of the time are filled with pain because his college schoolmate Lee Han-yeol died in front of him, stricken on the head by a teargas bomb thrown by riot police.

"Lee was killed in a demonstration which I led. I still feel responsible for his death. I promised his parents I would become their son instead," Woo said.

The government first denied Lee was killed by a teargas bomb but Woo and other student activists demanded an autopsy.