During the 1980s was the time period when South Korea was the beginning of political authority and rapid economic development. One of the most important events that happened during this time was the Kwangju Massacre. The outrage, violence, and brutality started under the military dictator Chun Do Hwan. The vicious military leader Chun Do Hwan commanded the Korean military soldiers to kill hundreds of innocent citizens due to them protesting against the government and wanting a change in the political climate of South Korea. Under the dictatorship of Chun, thousands of laborer’s basic work rights have been removed by the government. The government during the 1980s was filled with hatred and violence and had no intentions of improving the dreadful working conditions for …show more content…
Although Korea’s economy was moving in the positive direction for significant growth, it didn’t represent the true picture of what kind of an atmosphere these working class people were dealing with on a day to day basis. Minjung art was one of the ways to reproach and condemn the severity of the misrepresentation of the environment during Chun Do Hwan’s regime.
Minjung movement was able to illustrate the current political and social gap that Korea was facing at the time. One of the arts that stood out was by Shin Hak Chul where it portrays a picture of the developed urban city of Korea on top of the clouds while the farmers are on the ground drinking makkoli. The purpose of this art was that not only the separation between the wealthy and the working class but rather the movement was a joint movement of all citizens for reunification and democracy of South Korea. Minjung Art quickly became a symbol and played a significant part at the time of the movement in the 1980s Korea. Although the art displayed voices of the citizens, the Minjung artists often created controversies for harshly reprehending against the Korean government. As a