Over 500 Employees, Students, and Parents Walk on Geumnam-ro Wearing 5·18 Group Shirts
Education Superintendent Lee Jeong-seon: "Internalizing 5·18 Education... Elevating Gwangju Spirit to Universal World Values"
On the eve of the 44th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising commemorative ceremony, a record number of Gwangju education family members participated in the Democratic Peace March, drawing attention.
According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education on the 17th, about 500 people, including employees from the main office and affiliated institutions, student representatives, and parents, took part in the Democratic Peace March held around Geumnam-ro that day. Notably, this was the first time that student and parent representatives participated in the march.
The peace march participants, including Superintendent Lee Jeong-seon, gathered at the Gwangju Park parking lot at 5 p.m., sang the "March for the Beloved," and held a send-off ceremony where they learned the "Gwangju Departure Song" and slogans.
After the send-off ceremony, the procession, led by the May Folk Band and broadcast vehicles, marched to Geumnam Park. The Gwangju education family wore white group T-shirts inscribed with 5·18, waving hand-held placards, large banners, and flags, leading the march and receiving enthusiastic applause from citizens.
During the march, the education family met with May Mothers and bereaved families at Geumnam Park to offer consolation and pledged to nationalize and globalize the spirit of May.
Gong Hun, a public official who participated in the march, said, "It was deeply moving to be able to march with the citizens along Geumnam-ro, the historic site, and to reaffirm the Gwangju spirit."
Middle school parent Park Hyun-jin said, "I think this is probably the first time the Office of Education has participated so actively in the 5·18 event," adding, "Walking the historic site with my child today and meeting many teachers was very touching."
Gwangju Superintendent of Education Lee Jeong-seon emphasized, "The participation of the education family in the Democratic Peace March is an expression of the will to embody 5·18 education physically and contribute to its nationalization and globalization," adding, "We will strive even more in May education to elevate the Gwangju spirit to a universal global value."
Meanwhile, the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, after officially participating in the 5·18 event committee for the first time in 30 years this year, is conducting various unprecedented events such as visits by all executives to the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, memorial visits to the alma mater of student victims, 5·18 blood donations, and Superintendent Lee Jeong-seon serving as a 5·18 commemorative education lecturer.
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