Memorial Concert Held for the Late Police Commissioner Ahn Byeong-ha Who Opposed the Military Regime During 5·18

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] A memorial concert was held to honor the late Police Commissioner Ahn Byung-ha, who was dismissed from his position for refusing the order to shoot at Gwangju citizens during the May 18, 1980 Democratization Movement and later died from the aftereffects of torture.

On the 5th, the Ahn Byung-ha Memorial Association (President Park Ki-soo) held the "Democratic Police Officer Ahn Byung-ha Memorial Concert" on the evening of the 2nd at 6 PM at the Seogu Cultural Center in Gwangju Metropolitan City.

Following the "33rd Anniversary Gwangju Memorial Ceremony for Police Commissioner Ahn Byung-ha, Director of Jeonnam Provincial Police in May 1980" held on October 9, this memorial concert was held for the first time.

The Gwangju Women’s Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra (Director Kim Yoo-jung), Big Men Singers (Baritone Kim Je-seon, Bass Jang Moon-seok), and mixed duet (Kim Ik-hyun & Shim Ji) performed songs to commemorate Police Commissioner Ahn Byung-ha and console his bereaved family.

The final song of the memorial concert was "Gwangju Departure Song," which concluded with a time for performers and the audience to join together.

Attendees included Mrs. Jeon Im-soon, widow of Police Commissioner Ahn Byung-ha, his son Ahn Ho-jae, Kim Seung-pil, son of Kim Sa-bok, a real-life figure from the movie Taxi Driver, Park Ki-soo, president of the Ahn Byung-ha Memorial Association, Kim Yong-in, president of the Korea Veterans Police Association Central Committee, as well as Kim Jin-hee, president of the Gwangju Police Veterans Association, and its members.

Also present were Yoon Mok-hyun, Director of the Gwangju Democratic Human Rights and Peace Bureau; Jung Soon-ae, Vice Chairperson of the Gwangju City Council; Park Soo-mi, wife of National Assembly member Song Gap-seok; Seo Dae-seok, head of Seogu District Office; and Kim Jae-gyu, former Chief of Jeonnam Police Agency.

Dr. Lee Jae-ui, author of the biography of Ahn Byung-ha, emphasized, “The late Commissioner Ahn’s conviction to prioritize the lives and safety of the people saved countless lives of citizens in Gwangju and Jeonnam provinces. His spirit of serving the people is a model not only for the police but for all public officials in the Republic of Korea.”

Kim Yong-in, president of the Korea Veterans Police Association Central Committee, said, “The true image of a Korean police officer is embodied by Commissioner Ahn Byung-ha, and we will take the lead in promoting and inheriting his spirit of serving the people.”