How Did Hinzpeter, the Real-Life Model for “A Taxi Driver,” Get Into Gwangju?

Travel expense report and road sign photos trace his reporting route from 46 years ago
Detour near Gimje, checkpoint at Sanam Tunnel... Route reconstructed for exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of his death

In May 1980, how did German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter make his way into Gwangju while evading the tight controls imposed by martial law troops?

A travel expense settlement statement and photographs of road signs that he left behind 46 years ago provided clues to retracing his route at the time. By cross-checking the locations documented in the records against the photographs, researchers reconstructed the route into Gwangju, which had been difficult to pinpoint in detail until now.

The exhibition hall for “The Record Continues: The Blue-Eyed Witness, Hinzpeter’s Legacy,” a special exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of Jürgen Hinzpeter’s death, which opened on the 5th at the Planning Exhibition Hall of the former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Building in Gwangju. Photo by Kim Wanjung

The special exhibition marking the 10th anniversary of Hinzpeter’s death, “The Record Continues: The Legacy Left by Hinzpeter, the Blue-Eyed Witness,” which opened on November 5 in the planning exhibition hall of the former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government building in Gwangju, presents this analysis alongside his reporting records and personal belongings.

Hinzpeter was a German journalist who filmed the atrocities in Gwangju during the May 18 Democratization Movement in 1980 and brought them to the attention of the world. He is also known as the real-life model for the German journalist in the film “A Taxi Driver.”

Among the items drawing attention at the exhibition are his reporting albums and travel expense settlement statement.

According to the exhibition commentary, researchers found a report related to the settlement of travel expenses, dated June 3, 1980, alongside an album containing the film. The report documented in detail his itinerary between Seoul, Gwangju, and Tokyo.

An exhibition map reconstructing the route Hinzpeter took to Gwangju in May 1980, based on photographs and travel records from his reporting at the time. Photo by Kim Wanjung

As part of preparations for the exhibition, the team cross-referenced locations shown in photographs and footage taken at the time with the records. They paid particular attention to road signs Hinzpeter photographed while traveling. By arranging the photographs in the order of the places he actually visited, rather than chronologically, they traced his route to Gwangju.

The analysis suggests that Hinzpeter left the expressway near what is now Gimje Interchange to avoid roadblocks. Road signs for Geumsansa and Hwangsan, Wonpyeong and Gamgok, Nongso and Yeongwon, and Sangpyeong and Soseong, visible in photographs taken at the time, provided clues for tracing his detour.

He also encountered martial law troops at checkpoints on the way to Gwangju. The exhibition explains that he was stopped once at Sanam Tunnel, now called Honam Tunnel, and again at a point 26 km from Gwangju and 10 km from Jangseong. He is believed to have entered Gwangju via Seogwangju Interchange.

Other film also revealed scenes of downtown Gwangju at the time, including the elevated road in Unam-dong and Unam Gas Station. The exhibition features a map of the route reconstructed from this analysis.

Exhibition organizers said they hope these materials will provide clues not only for studying Hinzpeter’s reporting activities, but also for researching the routes and reporting work of other foreign correspondents who traveled to Gwangju.

These reporting records are featured in Part 1 of the exhibition, “Reviving May.” Visitors can view photographs and footage taken during the May 18 Democratization Movement, as well as annotations documenting the circumstances in which each image on the slide film was captured.

On display are video tapes labeled “CBS NEWS” that Hinzpeter kept, as well as an intermediate edited version used in the production of the documentary “A Short Spring in Gwangju.” Visitors can view both the original video tapes and digitized footage.

Part 2, “Seeing the World,” recreates Hinzpeter’s living space and introduces his life as a journalist through personal belongings such as his passport, reporting notebooks, and typewriter.

The exhibition also presents photographs he took around the world, not just in Gwangju. They offer a glimpse into his varied interests, including rural scenes in Korea and Japan, as well as politics, the economy, society, and culture.

The final section, Part 3, “Carrying May Forward,” presents a commemorative plaque Hinzpeter received, various journalism-related awards, and personal belongings donated by his family. Materials related to the Hinzpeter International Journalism Award, named in his honor, are also on display.

The photographs and footage Hinzpeter left behind played an important role in revealing the truth about the May 18 Democratization Movement. Decades later, even the travel expense settlement statement and road sign photographs from his reporting trips have become records that help retrace his steps.

The special exhibition was jointly organized by the Former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Restoration Promotion Team of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the May 18 Memorial Foundation. It runs through March 28, 2027.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.