Chonnam National University Holds 40th Anniversary 5·18 Memorial Ceremony

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 40th anniversary ceremony of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement at Chonnam National University was held on the morning of the 18th at Yongbong Hall.

Chonnam National University announced that about 200 people, including President Jeong Byeong-seok, Park Seung-hyun, president of the alumni association, faculty, students, former president of the Chonnam National University Democratic Alumni Association Choi Cheol, and members, attended the ceremony jointly hosted by the May 18 Research Institute and the Chonnam National University Democratic Alumni Association to commemorate the 40th anniversary of May 18.

Notably, Father Song Gi-in, known as President Moon Jae-in's mentor and the godfather of the democratization movement in Busan and Gyeongnam, attended the event, drawing attention.

The ceremony proceeded with a progress report by Moon Seok-hwan, vice president of the Democratic Alumni Association, followed by the reading of the declaration "A Call to All Intellectuals of the Republic of Korea" by Kim Do-hyung, president of the Chonnam National University Professors' Association, and concluded with the singing of the "March for the Beloved."

President Jeong emphasized, "The petals of Chonnam National University are scattered on Geumnam-ro, and the echoes of anger and lamentation poured out as we lost children, friends, and comrades still resonate deeply in our hearts today. We must uncover the truth and record that day without a single error to commemorate it in memory."

Choi Cheol, president of the Democratic Alumni Association, proposed finding or restoring images of the first clash between students and martial law troops at the main gate of Chonnam National University and reenacting the actual confrontation on the anniversary.