By Sohn JiAe
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Moon Jae-in watched the movie “A Taxi Driver” on Aug. 13. The film is based on the true story of Jurgen Hinzpeter, a German journalist who exposed to the world the horrors of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju in 1980. Next to the president was Edeltraut Brahmstaedt, the widow of the late German journalist.

After watching the movie, President Moon spoke with Brahmstaedt, saying, “People in other regions across the nation were not aware of what was happening in Gwangju. Journalists and broadcasters who tried to report on the uprising were all punished. Thanks to your husband, we were able to know the truth,” the president said, expressing his gratitude.

Recalling the June Democracy Movement of 1987 in which he took part, President Moon said, “I was able to watch some of Hinzpeter’s films when I met with Catholic priests based in Gwangju. The films triggered the movement, at last.”



Brahmstaedt recalled that her late husband had once said that his memories of Gwangju were the biggest part of his life, saying, “He would be really happy that his story has been told as a movie, not just in a short documentary. I hope young people will realize that democracy is not something that just happens.”

jiae5853@korea.kr