User:Freedom4U/Future articles/Killing of Lee Han-yeol

Lee Han-yeol (August 29, 1996 – July 5, 1987) was a South Korean student activist whose death became the trigger for the June Democratic Struggle and the ensuing June 29 Declaration.

During the protest, Yonsei student Lee Han-yeol was seriously injured when a tear gas grenade penetrated his skull. In critical condition, he quickly became a symbol of the subsequent protests over the weeks that followed. He finally died of his wounds on July 5, after the regime had agreed to the people's demands. Over 1.6 million citizens participated in his national funeral, held on July 9. He was buried at May 18th National Cemetery.

Following his death, Lee became a martyr figure in the Korean democracy movement.

Life

 * Lee was studying in the Department of Business Administration at Yonsei University.

Death

 * On June 9, 1987, protests. Riot police shot tear gas canisters directly into the crowd of protesters. One of the tear gas canisters penetrated his skull and _. He died 2 months later on the morning of July 5 after receiving intensive care at the Severance Hospital.


 * Lee's death was the catalyst for the June Democratic Struggle.

Aftermath
In 1998, Lee's mother, Bae Eun-shim led a sit-in in front of the National Assembly for 422 days, until the enactment of the Presidential Truth Commission on Suspicious Deaths.

In 2012, all of the personal and historical belongings kept by the cartoon club were donated to the Lee Han Yeol Memorial Museum.

In popular culture

 * Lee Han-yeol is played by Gang Dong-won in the political thriller film 1987: When the Day Comes.