Jeon Woo-won Visits 5·18 Democratic Cemetery... First Among Jeon Doo-hwan Family

Wiping Tombstone with Worn Coat Saying "Sorry for Being Late"

Guestbook Reads "Here Lies the True Father of Democracy"

Jeon Woo-won (27), the grandson of former President the late Jeon Du-hwan, visited the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City to pay his respects.

At the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeon Woo-won (27), grandson of former President Jeon Du-hwan, is paying silent tribute to the spirits of May.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

On the 31st at around 11:30 a.m., Jeon visited the cemetery and paid tribute to the grave of the late Kim Kyung-chul, the first casualty of the May 18 Democratic Movement, as well as the graves of the late Jeon Jae-soo, missing persons, and unnamed martyrs.

After listening to Kim Beom-tae, director of the 5·18 Democratic Cemetery Management Office, about the circumstances of the deaths of the May 18 spirits, Jeon, deeply thoughtful, took off his outerwear and sincerely wiped the tombstones of the victims.

During his visit, Jeon also met with families of the May 18 victims and repeatedly said, "I am sorry," while Kim Gil-ja, mother of the late Moon Jae-hak, embraced him tightly, saying, "It must have been very difficult for you to come all the way here."

Jeon said, "I am grateful for being given such a precious opportunity to pay respects despite being a sinner like me, and I will strive to show a good image not just once but continuously."

In the guestbook, he wrote, "Thank you sincerely for illuminating the darkness that is me with light. The true fathers of democracy are all those buried here."

After completing the official morning schedule, Jeon and the May 18 organizations plan to visit the old Jeonnam Provincial Office and Jeonil Building around 3 p.m. to express their apologies to the mothers guarding the provincial office.

Jeon Woo-won is wiping the dust off the grave of the late martyr Kim Kyung-chul with his coat.
[Photo by Min Hyun-ki]