Memorial for 'Kim Euigi Martyr' Who Jumped in Jongno, Seoul to Raise Awareness of Gwangju Democratization Movement

'May Chair' Installed at the Site of Martyr Kim in Front of the Christian Hall

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] The 5.18 Democratic Movement Seoul Memorial Association and the Kim Ui-gi Martyr May Chair Establishment Committee will hold a memorial service on the 40th anniversary of Kim Ui-gi's death and install the 'May Chair' honoring Kim Ui-gi in front of the Korea Christian Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 30th.

On May 30, 1980, during the democratization movement in Gwangju, Kim, a student at Sogang University, threw himself from the 6th floor of the Christian Hall in Jongno after distributing leaflets criticizing the violent suppression of the democratization movement by martial law troops. This May Chair project was promoted with the support of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Jongno-gu to widely publicize the 'May Spirit' on the 40th anniversary of the 5.18 Democratic Movement.

Due to the impact of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the event will limit participation by the general public and will be conducted in compliance with infectious disease-related guidelines. A small-scale memorial service (about 30 people) will be held, mainly involving bereaved families and members of the May Chair Promotion Committee.

The progress report on the installation of the May Chair will be presented by Park Jeong-bu, a friend of Kim and the elder brother of martyr Park Jong-cheol, and Kim's sister, Kim Ju-suk, will be the first to sit on the May Chair and deliver the memorial address.

Kim Ju-suk said, "It has been 40 years since my younger brother threw himself onto the armored vehicle of the martial law troops. Through his heroic death, I hope democracy will take deeper root and grow sturdily in this land, bearing many fruits."