• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.451-473
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• 2017

This study explores the aftermath of state violence and the meaning of its healing by analyzing testimony therapy designed to deal with trauma of the victims of May 18 democratization movement("May 18"). In order to have a point of view that May 18 had catastrophic impacts on many individuals and communities and to observe the after-effects of such event to individuals' lives, this study analyzed the contents of testimony therapy sessions of four people who were tortured, arrested and detained after their participating in May 18 in 1980. The experiences of those participants with their testimony therapy and the interactions they had with the audience during the sessions made sure what are the key factors to healing the trauma from state violence. Nineteen topics were drawn from analyzing the statements made in the therapy process, and out of them, seven subjects below were chosen as the most significant; 'repetitive pain', 'social and economic damage', 'isolation and disconnection', 'transition of suffering to other generations', and 'Safety', 'healing through connections', 'obligation as a survivor'. Based on its findings, this study also examined the characteristics of trauma caused by state violence and made suggestions for healing such trauma.