300,000 Cheer Kim Dae Jung in South Korea

Opposition leader Kim Dae Jung returned to his home province today, drawing more than 300,000 cheering people as he sought to rally support for a possible presidential bid.

Armed riot police sealed off the main government offices in the city center as thousands of students chanting “Down with dictatorship” and “Long live Kim” demonstrated outside.

The crowds dispersed peacefully after giving a hero’s welcome to the 63-year-old political veteran, who returned to his native Cholla province for the first time in 16 years--he was in exile or in prison during most of that time--as part of a nationwide tour to strengthen his hand in a battle for the opposition presidential nomination.

Province Rebelled in ’80

He was mobbed and cheered when he arrived by train in Kwangju, an opposition stronghold which declared open rebellion against the government in 1980.

He later visited a cemetery outside the city and sobbed over the graves of victims of the uprising, which was harshly suppressed by elite forces sent by Chun Doo Hwan, then a military strongman and now president.

“The blood you shed shall remain forever in our history,” Kim said.

The government has said 192 people were killed but the opposition maintains many more died when paratroopers stormed into the city.

Kim also appeared on the back of an open truck, flanked by his wife and opposition members of Parliament, to make a loudspeaker appeal to the crowds to disperse.

“Kwangju citizens should not give any excuse to those who do not want democracy. I appeal to you, for your sake and for mine and for democracy, to go home peacefully,” he said.