The history of the student movement centered on Pusan National University (PNU) is contained in one book.

On August 29th, the PNU Korean Culture Heritage Research Institute announced that it is preparing to publish a collection of “PNU Student Movement History” records containing the historical moments of the student movement. The publication project was launched based on the consensus of internal members of the school on the systematic organization of the history of the democratization movement in PNU, the spread of university spirit, communication between generations, and the formation of a network with the local community.

For about four months, starting on May 1st, the Korean Culture Heritage Research Institute formed a promotion organization consisting of a compilation committee, an advisory committee, and a writing team, and it recruited three editorial supervisors. Ahn Seung-Woon, vice chairman of the Busan Democracy Foundation and representative of the PNU student movement, will chair the compilation committee. Two writers who participated in the student movement and three history majors will also join as writers on behalf of Cha Chul-Wook (Prof. of the Korean Culture Heritage Research Institute, PNU)

The record book contains the history of the student movement inside and outside PNU from 1946 to the 1990s. It will consist of five parts and summarize in 500 pages the establishment of PNU, the April 19 Revolution, the establishment of the Park Chung-Hee regime and the anti-dictatorship Democratization Movement in Korea, the student movement and direction of the 1980s, the realization of The June Struggle for Democracy, and the crisis and new changes of the student movement in the 1990s. Cha Chul-Wook (Prof. of the Korean Culture Heritage Research Institute, PNU) said, “Busan has led significant events in a historical context, but its evaluation is insufficient. I had the experience of publishing ‘The History of the Busan Democratization Movement’ two to three years ago, so I started publishing it at the request of former PNU President Cha Jeong-In.”

Prof. Cha Chul-Wook said he is collecting data through university archives, Democratic Park, Korea Democracy Foundation, BUMA(Busan-Nasan) Democratic Uprising Memorial Foundation, local media news, student movement experienced persons and faculty members. Prof. Cha said, “Since there is not much literature data left from that time, we are receiving donations from individuals or using materials such as Busan Democracy Park, the BUMA Democratic Uprising Memorial Foundation, and Korea Democracy Foundation. People who experienced student movement at that time are reluctant to make oral statements for reasons such as trauma. Still, we are working hard because it is important to include their stories.”

The writing team plans to write so the current generation can “empathize” with the student movement. Prof. Cha said, “If the student movement at that time is released as a relationship between the nation and individual, it is hard to empathize with the current generation because they do not identify themselves with the nation. I must emphasize that the student movement is not far away and can be connected to current students.”

Prof. Cha added, “I want students to live without being bound by anyone while doing what they want. If this book can be provided with such materials, I think that’s what our writing team and those involved in the democratization movement want most.” The “PNU Student Movement History” record book aims to be published on April 30th, 2025.

Reported Lee Bo-Young

Transtlated by Seo Ye-Jin