Mun Jeong-hyeon

Career

In the 1970s, he founded the Catholic Priests Association for Justice in opposition to the South Korean dictatorships that had killed pro-democracy activists. Since the 1980s, he has been a leading voice against the United States. military presence in South of Korea. In 2012, he was awarded the In 1976, he was jailed along with future president Kim Dae-jung.

In 1986, he joined rallies and hunger strikes supporting the establishment of a democratic constitution.

He also began a hunger strike one block from the United States. Embassy in Seoul. The expansion tripled the base in size and forced a number of residents from their home villages.

In 2005, a warrant was issued for his arrest following a large protest that led to clashes between demonstrators and riot police. In April 2012, he fell from a concrete tetrapod during a protest, fracturing several vertebrae.

Achievements

• Mun was awarded the on 18 May 2012, the first Korean individual to win the prize. The citation read: The Catholic Priest Mun Jeong Hyeon has demonstrated his consistent commitment to peace and justice during his life time. His concerns have ranged from his involvement in fighting against the 1970"s dictatorship where the authoritarian regime carried out extrajudicial killings, to the 1980"s military junta, to the struggle against the navy base at Gangjeong, Jeju till this day. This member of the Catholic clergy has resisted against injustice and abuse of state power, while encouraging the socially disadvantaged and conducting environmental and peace movements.

Politics

The movement was at first small due to the country"s conservatism and the association between anti-Americanism and communism, but grew into a mainstream movement over the following decades.

Membership

This member of the Catholic clergy has resisted against injustice and abuse of state power, while encouraging the socially disadvantaged and conducting environmental and peace movements.