This research paper analyzed the terms and causes of “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” in 1960, when college students waged for the first time in Seoul cities, just before a day when “April 19th Revolution” took place. As it is hard to explain about movements and processes of the massive non-violent direct actions only in macro- and structural aspects, this paper attempted to analyze the non-violent direct actions from two macro and micro-perspectives in link with political process. Such approach methods were made due to influences of established organizations, informal links, sub-cultural identities on solidarity, cooperation and ideological hegemonism. Thus, complex and multi-perspective approach methods are useful in not only changing awareness, actions and motives but also identifying characteristics and patterns of “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” in visual lights.
This research paper attempted to review and reconceptualize the name and traits of April Revolution and April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions, before analyzing terms and causes of April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions. Assuming that the name of “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” has something to do with the name of traits that the event had, “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” can be referred to as assuming a less important significance and complying with no true spirit that “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” had.
This paper started to study the root of the history and correlation networks of Non-Violent Direct Actions waged by students at Korea University. At the same time, this attempted to establish concepts, taking into reflection of dualistic meaning of “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” in receipt of exterior motives and supports and, taking consideration of status and roles that “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” played in the Korean Democratic Movement History. “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” caused by students at Korean University was redefined under the awareness that such actions are cultural phenomena hard to explain merely in objective/ structural/ financial and institutional terms. In addition to this, this paper accounted for the significance of organizational strategies that “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” or ‘student actions’ had.
This research paper is to consider “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” waged by students at Korea University as not just the epoch-making event, which led a change in the frameworks of the Korean Democratic Movement, but also, as the historical event, which opened a way to get over limited boundaries and establish greater correlation frameworks. It goes without saying that this paper established broader correlation frameworks apart from regional class, issue and boundaries between the two Koreas.
Research on spirit of “April 18th Non-Violent Direct Actions” in South Korea was made within broader frameworks, without exception.
One was to expand correlation frameworks apart from democratic frameworks and systems limited to representative democracy. Another was to promote memory and communication frameworks, in face of coercibly forgotten symbolic orders.