Gwangju Nam-gu to Hold May Spirit Succession Event

Nam-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, will hold a series of events to share the values of the May 18 Democratic Movement of 1980 and to carry on its spirit.

According to Nam-gu on the 15th, a memorial cultural festival for the May spirits who sacrificed their lives around Songam-dong and Hyochon Station in May 1980 will be held from 4 p.m. on the 23rd at the Hyochon Station Plaza area.

The theme of this year’s memorial cultural festival is “1980~2023 Connecting the Memories of That Day,” and about 100 people, including bereaved families of the victims who died here during the May 18 Democratic Movement and local residents, are expected to attend.

The first part of the memorial ceremony will begin with a pre-ceremony performance by the Hyochon Middle School band, followed by memorial speeches from local residents and members of the National Assembly.

In the second part, the cultural festival will feature a satirical performance depicting the story of Gwangju in May 1980, a saxophone ensemble performance by local indie musicians, recitations of memorial poems by Hyochon Middle School students and residents, creative dance and vocal performances honoring the May spirits, and a stage performance by folk singer Jeong Yong-ju.

Additionally, around the memorial cultural festival stage, booths will be operated for various experiences such as the May story through photographs, sharing of rice balls, and making of 5·18 goods.

On the 30th, a Nam-gu forum titled “How to Develop Nam-gu May Road” will be held in the 7th-floor situation room of the district office as an extension of carrying on the May spirit.

At the forum, the final results of the research service for the development of May Road currently being promoted in Nam-gu will be shared, and in-depth discussions on the direction of the May Road development project will take place.

In addition, Nam-gu will hang a banner commemorating the 43rd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement on the outer wall of the district office until the end of May to carry on the May spirit and honor the victims. On the 12th, District Mayor Kim Byeong-nae participated in the May 18 Democratic Movement SNS challenge to pay tribute to the noble spirit of the May spirits and numerous democratic martyrs.

A Nam-gu official said, “This will be an opportunity to inherit the righteous struggle of the citizens of Gwangju in May 1980 and the spirit of resistance against injustice, and to open a brighter future through the lessons of the May uprising.”