Normalization of the '5·18 Eve Ceremony' After 3 Years... Gwangju Geumnam-ro Area Crowded with Citizens

Citizens Commemorate in Their Own Ways... Various Experience Booths Also Draw Attention

On the afternoon of the 17th, citizens came to the May 18th Eve Festival and are watching the performance.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Junho] The eve ceremony held before the May 18 Democratic Movement memorial service, which had been scaled down or canceled due to the impact of COVID-19, has returned to normal after three years.

From children holding their mothers' hands to elderly people with white hair like frost on their heads, men and women dressed in suits and shoes, crowds from all walks of life gathered around Geumnam-ro in Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, as if waiting for the eve ceremony held for the first time in three years, making the streets lively.

Thus, the 'May Citizen Festival' began.

Citizens commemorated the May 18 event, which happened 42 years ago, in their own ways. From drawing murals to tasting May rice balls, many organizations and groups such as the Gwangju Trauma Center, May Mothers' House, and Gwangju Cultural Foundation approached passing citizens from tents.

The representative symbol embodying the spirit of May 18 is the 'rice ball.' During May 18, Gwangju citizens voluntarily made rice balls and delivered them to the citizen army fighting against the martial law troops. To carry on this spirit, rice ball sharing events are held here and there around May 18.

On this day, the 'May Rice Ball' booth was set up without fail at the citizen festival. Even though it was well past lunchtime, citizens lined up to receive rice balls, not forgetting the situation during May 18. An elderly person holding a rice ball in hand looked up at the sky for a while, perhaps recalling the situation 42 years ago.

At the Gwangju Trauma Center booth, a mobile psychological healing center for May 18 injured and victims was operated, informing passing citizens about the need for mental compensation for the victims.

At another booth, sketches of May 18 democratic murals were exhibited. Since it was an art exhibition with citizens, some stopped on their way and colored the artworks to pay tribute.

At the Gwangju branch booth of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union, children wrote their thoughts with small hands about May 18, which they learned at school, remembering the event. In particular, all fourth-grade students of Gwangju Geungnak Elementary School participated in the eve ceremony with their teachers, experiencing May 18 firsthand.

Park Gyumin (11, Geungnak Elementary School) said, "I felt heartbroken and sad after hearing the teacher say that many people sacrificed on this road," adding, "I will definitely come every year so that we do not forget those who sacrificed."

On the stage prepared near the May 18 Democratic Square, performances by the band club and children's choir continued. Some citizens applauded the excellent skills, while others recorded the event with their mobile phones.

In the middle of the road, some young people played lively songs and danced. They encouraged applause from citizens, reviving the atmosphere that might have otherwise died down. Children stopped on their way and followed the dance.

Police officers stood here and there on the street, setting up metal fences and traffic cones, holding light sticks and order maintenance tape. They busily controlled vehicles and buses for the safety of citizens.

An elderly woman, seemingly recalling the situation during May 18, was holding a microphone in the middle of the street and screaming. Banners with phrases such as "We will be the May thread connecting past and present and stand together," "The power of truth, the light of the era, Great Unity Rice Ball," and "We will not forget the memory of the day that changed history on the street" were hung throughout the area.

Nam Sangsoo (61) said, "Having directly experienced May 18, even after 40 years, I have nightmares and cannot sleep every May," adding, "Darkness cannot overcome light, so I hope the undisclosed truth will be revealed soon to relieve the grievance."