Won Sun-sik, Standing Advisor of Gwangju Jeonnam Democratization Movement Association, Appointed New Chairman of 5·18 Foundation

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Won Soon-seok, Standing Advisor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Democratization Movement Comrades Association, has been elected as the new chairman of the 5·18 Memorial Foundation. The term is three years.

Chairman Won participated in the May 18 Democratization Movement in 1980 as the president of the student council at the College of Agriculture, Chonnam National University. He was arrested for rioting and violating the martial law proclamation, sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation.

Since then, he has served as president of the Park Gwan-hyeon Martyr Memorial Association, auditor and director of the Gwan-hyeon Scholarship Foundation, standing representative of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Democratization Movement Comrades Association, co-representative of the Gwangju Citizens' Movement Headquarters for the Resignation of Park Geun-hye, chairman of the Gwangju Democratization Movement Memorial Association, and member and chairman of the Gwangju Metropolitan City 5·18 Memorial Project Committee.

Currently, he is a director of the Daein Hong Nam-soon Lawyer Memorial Association and standing advisor of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Democratization Movement Comrades Association.

Chairman Won stated, "I will do my best to include the May 18 Popular Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution, uncover the truth of May 18, strengthen the status of the 5·18 Memorial Foundation and expand memorial projects, and improve the treatment and welfare of May 18 merit recipients."

Meanwhile, the 5·18 Memorial Foundation is a non-profit private foundation established with part of the compensation received by the May 18 victims from the government, public donations, and contributions from overseas compatriots.

Founded on August 30, 1994, the foundation carries out ▲ memorial and mourning projects ▲ international solidarity projects ▲ truth investigation projects ▲ academic, educational, and cultural projects ▲ scholarship projects ▲ publicity and publishing projects ▲ award projects such as the Gwangju Human Rights Award, Literature Award, and Press Award.