Seoul, South Korea - 1980's

Background:

After the May 18 People's Uprising in 1980, the struggle for

democratization continued during the presidencies of Chun Doo-hwan (1980-1988) and Roh Tae-woo (1988-1993) under their military dictatorship. College students were at the forefront of this movement, demanding true democracy. In 1992, South Korea was preparing for its first genuinely popular election which would bring Kim Young-sam to the presidency.

Story:

As a freshman, I was excited to dive into college life and make new friends. Today was the day I had been waiting for–my first group blind date since starting college!

I carefully selected my best outfit and styled my hair to perfection, ready to make a great impression.

As I strolled down the sidewalk, I heard a distant roar of noise that grew louder with each step.

Curious what was happening, I got closer to the entrance of the building where I saw a crowd gathering.

I was just about to step inside when suddenly...

BOOM!

My eyes burned, and my vision went dark. Tear gas exploded, and a choking cloud of fumes engulfed me.

My eyes burned, and my vision went dark.By the time I emerged, I was late and my clothes were a mess.

There was no date that day.