The Daegu uprising

The Daegu Uprising (대구 10월 사건), also known as the Daegu Insurrection or the Daegu October Incident, was a major event that took place in South Korea in October 1946. It was one of the first major civil uprisings in post-World War II Korea, and it occurred in Daegu, a city in the southeast of the country.

Historical context

After Japan's defeat in 1945, Korea was liberated from 35 years of Japanese occupation, but it immediately fell into a new geopolitical division between the North, controlled by the Soviets, and the South, under American influence. South Korea was placed under the American military government, led by General John R. Hodge.

In this context of political and economic upheaval, many tensions arose. The repression of communists and unions, severe food shortages, and the disillusionment over unmet promises of independence exacerbated popular frustrations. Farmers, workers, and communists, who had hoped for better living conditions after liberation from Japanese colonial rule, felt betrayed by the new administration and expressed their discontent.

Causes of the uprising

One of the main causes of the uprising was a massive strike by railroad workers and other laborers in September 1946, organized by unions influenced by the South Korean Workers' Party (a communist organization). These strikes intensified across the country, and Daegu, an important industrial hub, was particularly affected.

The American military government's response was to harshly suppress the strikes, which led to violent clashes between the police and protesters. The arrest and repression of many union activists worsened the situation, prompting the local population, including farmers, to rebel.

The event

On October 1, 1946, protesters in Daegu, furious over the brutal repression of strikers and the lack of socio-economic reforms, clashed with law enforcement. On that day, the police fired on an angry crowd, killing several people. This act triggered a large-scale revolt in the region.

For several days, thousands of people, mainly workers, farmers, and communist activists, participated in violent protests in Daegu and surrounding areas. Government buildings, police stations, and local offices of the American administration were attacked. The uprising spread to other cities and provinces in southern Korea, marking a significant point of tension in the power struggle between pro-American forces and communist elements in Korea.

Repression and consequences

The American military government and South Korean forces reacted harshly to suppress the uprising. Troops were deployed to restore order, and the repression resulted in the arrest of thousands of people and the deaths of hundreds of protesters.

The Daegu Uprising marked a turning point in political struggle in South Korea. It highlighted the deep divide between supporters of the U.S.-backed government and those advocating for a more socialist and nationalist path, often aligned with northern forces.

Although the insurrection was suppressed, it fueled a climate of distrust and radicalization, especially in rural areas and among workers. This event also contributed to tightening military and police control over union and political movements in southern Korea. It had further repercussions in the subsequent history of civil strife in Korea, which escalated into the Korean War in 1950.

Historical importance

The Daegu Uprising is often cited as an example of the intense social and political struggle that marked the years of transition from Japanese colonial rule to Korean independence. It revealed deep tensions within Korean society at the time and foreshadowed the lasting division of the peninsula between communist North Korea and capitalist South Korea.

It is also commemorated in Korea as a key moment in the history of popular movements and the struggle for workers' rights.