On the occasion of the 46th commemoration of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising of 18 May 1980, South Korea’s public broadcaster Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) interviewed the 94-year-old Rev. Dr. Winfried Glüer, who actively supported Korea’s democratization movement from Germany during the period of military dictatorship. 

A Key Figure in International Church Cooperation 

From 1978 to 1994, Glüer served as East Asia Secretary of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS) Secretariat in Stuttgart and as Executive Secretary of the German East Asia Mission (DOAM). During this period, he played a key role not only in supporting South Korea’s democratization movement but also in strengthening cooperation among EMS member churches across East Asia. 

The interview was conducted at Glüer’s home in Ansbach, Germany, in the presence of the KBS reporting team, Rev. Dr. Kang-Hee Han, Head of EMS’ East Asia Unit, and Rev. Heekyung Jeong, a doctoral candidate at the University of Mainz. 

Historical Background: The Gwangju Democratic Uprising 

The Gwangju Democratic Uprising (18–27 May 1980) was a major democratic resistance movement in which citizens rose up against the military regime led by Doo-hwan Chun. It formed part of a broader struggle against authoritarian rule that had persisted since the introduction of former President Chung-hee Park’s Yushin system in 1972, characterized by centralized power, restricted political pluralism, and an emphasis on national security and economic development. The Yushin system institutionalized authoritarian rule through the concentration of executive power, the erosion of democratic checks and balances, and the severe restriction of civil and political liberties. 

During this period, segments of the Korean Protestant community engaged in pro-democracy activities grounded in Christian values such as human rights, justice, and peace. Churches worldwide – particularly in Germany – played an important role in supporting these efforts. 

In the interview, Glüer recalled his visit to South Korea on 27 October 1979, just months before the Gwangju Uprising, when signs of deepening authoritarian rule were already evident. During this visit, he saw theology students from the Presbyterian Church of Korea (Tonghap), an EMS member church, participating in pro-democracy activities. He also described witnessing acts of violence near the building of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) in Gwangju: “Ara Cho, a democratic activist, pointed to a door riddled with bullet holes. 'One of our staff members used to sit here at the reception desk,’ she said. ‘He was shot through this closed door, and this is where we found him lying dead.' The experience left a profound impression on me and shook me to the core.” 

International Response and Church Solidarity 

Information about the events in Gwangju was quickly transmitted to Germany through EMS networks. Reports of the violent suppression of civilians by martial law forces shocked German churches, prompting the dissemination of articles, posters, and other materials that raised awareness throughout the country. Financial support collected by EMS and other German churches was later delivered to South Korea through Rev. Paul Schneiss (1933–2022), an EMS mission partner based in Japan at the time. These funds assisted families of those imprisoned in connection with the uprising and provided solidarity to Korean Christians facing repression. 

The interview with Rev. Glüer was broadcast nationwide in South Korea by KBS on 18 June. “It stands as a valuable historical testimony, highlighting the solidarity between Korean and German churches – particularly the role and contributions of EMS – in the history of South Korea’s democratization movement,” concluded Kang-Hee Han. 

The interview video can be viewed here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3-zVEPHJY8