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The American who walked into the turmoil of Korean history

After graduating from university, David wanted to make a positive change in the world. He joined the Peace Corps and arrived in South Korea in 1978. He was bestowed with a Korean name, Im Dae-oon and it was his name throughout his time in Korea. He was assigned to serve as a tuberculosis worker in Yeongam, a town in Korea's southwest. He came to fall in love with the country's food,scenery, and people.
On May 18, 1980, David arrived in Gwangju to transfer buses to his home, Yeongam. Tim Warnberg, his friend and fellow Peace Corps Volunteer, told him that there was brutal violence against any young people seen in the streets. He came back home but he continued to hear that the violence was getting worse and the phone lines to Gwangju had been cut. David set out for the city to check on Tim and his Korean friends.

Bearing Witness of the Gwangju Uprising

On the road to Gwangju, David encountered a military truck and a bus with protesters. David took a photo of them. He had a confrontation with KCIA agent who was demanding his camera. When he reached the city, he witnessed gunfire from helicopter, results of brutal violences, and the wailing from the deads’ family members. He was shocked by what human can do to other humans. David and 3 other Peace Corps Volunteers helped the wounds and interpreted for foreign journalists.
David was invited to the Provincial Office building, which was the center of the uprising. He got to know students leaders and bore witness to the aftermath of the last stand against the dictatorship. When the 10 days of uprising ended in tragedy, David and other Peace Corps Volunteer were called to the head office. Only David was forced to resigned for violating its rules on political noninterference. Even after he lost his status as a Peace Corps Volunteer, he decided to stay in Korea. He got even involved deeper to Korean history working with the dissident.

What is the Gwangju Uprising?
The 1980 Gwangju Uprising was a people’s uprising by the citizens of Gwangju in response to the brutal and harsh suppression of student protests carried out by the Korean military after their leaders declared martial law and took over the country. It began on May 18 and ended the early morning of May 27, 1980. It began in Gwangju, the capital of South Jeolla province, but also expanded beyond the city to involve the southern half of the province.

Authors' Notes
David Lee Dolinger and
Matt VanVolenburg

Maps
1. South Korea / Jeollamam-do
2. Kwangju

Preface
One Night in May 1980

Part Ⅰ. There is Always a Beginning
1. The First Steps of the Journey - January to June 1978
2. Settling in and Finding My Self - July 1978 to May 1980

Part Ⅱ. The Kwangju Uprising, May 1980
3. Hope Amid Tension - Friday, May 16 to Saturday, May 17
4. "We cannot let them treat us this way!" - Sunday, May 18
5. Whispers and Whirlwinds - Monday May 19 to Tuesday May 20
6. The Path Forward - Wednesday, May 21
7. Liberation at What Cost? - Thursday, May 22
8. Doing What We Can - Friday, May 23
9. A Day in Their Shoes - Saturday, May 24
10. Can it Last? - Sunday, May 25
11. Funerals and Farewells - Monday, May 26
12. Bearing Witness - Tuesday, May 27
13. Consequences - Wednesday, May 28 to Monday, June 2

Part Ⅲ. Life after Kwangju
14. Finding and Defining - June to August 1980
15. Waegwan, Seoul, and Dissidents - September 1980 to July 1981
16. Trying to Stay True - 1981 to present
17. Closing Thoughts

Part Ⅳ. Remembering Tim
18. Memories of Tim - by His Family
19. Memories of Tim - by Those Who Knew Him
20. The Kwangju Uprising: An Inside View - Tim Warnberg

Appendix - David Lee Dolinger's Handwritten Memories
Acknowledgements

“How did I get here? I asked myself that question many times during the events of May 1980. I had asked it on May 16 as I listened to plans for the student-led torchlight march that night, I asked it on May 21 as I walked into the city, I asked it that early morning on May 25, and I will probably ask it until the end of my life. I never realized where it would all take me, or how it would all fit into a journey of a lifetime.”
-From the Preface-

“There was a finality to this day unlike any of the other days I had spent in the Provincial Capital. Running through my mind were worries about the final outcome, and how high the death toll might be. I could not figure out how I would be able to cope with it all. How do you deal with the possibility of a large number of people you know all dying in a short period of time?”
-From Funerals and farewells

“As I walked farther into the building, I discovered one body after another. I couldn’t bear the sight of it. They were all young, likely students. I didn’t want to look close enough to see if I knew anyone. (...) Tim finally asked, “Did you go inside?” “Yes. It wasn’t pretty,” I answered. I couldn’t say much more. When I tried to describe what I had seen, I was overcome by a flood of emotion and had to stop.“
-From Bearing Witness