The Busan-Masan Democratic Struggle, one of the four major democratization movements in Korea, was the trigger and turning point for Korean democratization, leading to the May 18th Democratization Movement and the June Democracy Movement.
However, this struggle received relatively little attention compared to the two democratization movements.
Accordingly, painter Kwak Young-hwa captured the landscape and the breath of the people at the time on canvas based on two years of research, field trips, and testimonies from participants in the uprising.
Furthermore, rather than simply recording history, the focus was on artistic reconstruction that captured the free will of the people in moments of resistance against oppression.
This is because the Buma Democratic Struggle should not be left behind only in history, but should be reborn as an asset of this era.

"October" follows the four-day protests from October 16 to 19, 1979, chronicling how the streets of Busan and Masan were filled with anger and solidarity.
In particular, the slogans spreading throughout the streets, the expressions on the citizens' faces, and the students who did not back down from the military and police were vividly brought to life in the painting.
Beyond reproduction, the brush of artist Kwak Young-hwa brings the time of the democratic struggle to the present.
Through the format of a picture journal, readers turn each page as if walking through the historical site, experiencing the moment when democracy blossomed.
In this way, we can recall the struggles of the past and at the same time ask ourselves whether today's democracy is truly true.

September 17th.
Students at Busan Technical College created and distributed a "Declaration" leaflet to inform students and citizens that the Yushin Constitution was an evil law that allowed the Park Chung-hee regime to maintain its power for a long time.
He climbed up to the school bulletin board, held a megaphone, and read the 'Declaration' loudly.
--- p.19

More than 500 students came running after hearing the news.
However, the protesting students were dragged into the professors' offices, beaten, and taken to the police station.
--- p.20

October 16th.
The students didn't give up.
Another student spent the night making 'Manifesto' flyers with his friends in the attic of his home.
--- p.26

“Let’s get out of school!” “We must let the citizens know that the Yushin Constitution is an evil law!” Over a thousand students began to leave the school, surrounded by police, through the old main gate.
--- p.32

A large rock flew into the air toward the police, accompanied by chants of relief.
The protests began in the heart of the city, which had long been oppressed by the Yushin regime.
--- p.43

Some shop owners even hid the chased students in their stores.
“You came in all of a sudden, hide!”
--- p.49

At the international market, merchants cursed at the police and threw coal briquettes.
--- p.58

Numerous students from Pusan ​​National University and Dong-A University sat on the road in front of the Buyeong Theater and sang the national anthem.
Students from other universities, including Kosin University, as well as high school students and repeat test takers, began to join.
--- p.74

At Busan Station, carpenters, construction workers, and day laborers gathered and protested fiercely.
Police responded with tear gas and tear gas grenades.
--- p.80

Then, from dawn, martial law forces consisting of airborne troops and marines entered the city center and city hall.
It also entered Pusan ​​National University and Dong-A University.
--- p.94

The 'Busan District Martial Law Command' was established at Pusan ​​National University, which was ordered to close.
Security Commander Chun Doo-hwan visited and delivered encouragement money, demanding a more harsh and violent crackdown.
--- p.99

Those injured received free emergency treatment at a nearby surgical hospital.
“Masan is a sanctuary of democracy! Park Chung-hee must step down!”
--- p.121

Masan citizens distributed water, kimbap, and bread to the protesters.
Students sang "My Homeland" and the police sang "Let's Defeat the Barbarians."
--- p.126

More than 200 protesters from Masan were arrested on the 18th alone.
The police station was filled with screams from police beatings and violent interrogations.
--- p.144

The Busan and Masan democratic uprisings that began on October 16, 1979, were a victorious revolution that brought an end to the 18-year-long Park Chung-hee regime and a great citizens' revolution that continued the spirit of the April 19 Revolution that overthrew the Syngman Rhee dictatorship.

--- p.165