This study examined symbolic meaning of 4`19 Revolution and 5`16 Military
revolution using a theory of "symbolism". Students and citizens, who led the
4·19 Revolution fought for freedom, justice, and democracy. 4.19 revolution has
very important historical value and symbolic meaning in our modern and
contemporary history because it had made rights of citizens and the basic
principles of national sovereignty of Korean firmly. And 5.16 military revolution,
which had occurred at the period of overall confusion, including politics,
economy, society after 4.19 revolution, has symbolic meaning in our modern and
contemporary history too. Because Republic of Korea had fell into a crisis due
to the attack of the unification movement of followers to North Korea, which
had been spread rapidly among intellectuals at that time, and it was 5`16
military force that had saved Republic of Korea from collapse of national
security by the unification movement in the early 1960’s.
If we consider 5.16 and 4.19 in the positive point of harmony and embrace,
we can find homogeneous means of each two revolution, as a patron of freedom
and democracy. In other words, 4`19 revolution had made the development of
democracy in the Republic of Korea through the consolidation of national
sovereignty, On the other hand, 5`16 Military revolution also had made the
development of democracy of Korea by the strong anti-Communist policy. And
also they have in common means on modernization of Republic of Korea. 4`19
revolution led mental modernization by the establishment of democracy, and 5`16
let ROK to has a economical modernization by a powerful military state-led
planned economy.
More important things is that we have to recognize of roles of followers to
North Korea, who had made a lot of problems to using a instigation of
ideological confrontation in our country. And the division of public opinion from
the conflict between the Left and the Right has been to interfere with the
national integration, and this is a inherent social ills. Therefore the positive
aspects of semantic analysis of 4.19 revolution and 5.16 military government is
necessary to find a way of national integration.