Gwangju Civil Society Holds Joint New Year's Ceremony... "Establishing the 7th Republic"

At May 18th National Cemetery: "Dismiss the Main Instigator of the Rebellion"

Sixteen civic groups from Gwangju and Jeonnam, including the Gwangju Citizens' Coalition, Gwangju Progressive Alliance, and the May 18 Memorial Foundation, are shouting slogans in front of the Gate of Democracy at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery on the morning of the 3rd. Photo by Min Chan-ki

The Gwangju civil society held a joint New Year's ceremony on the 3rd and pledged to take the lead in building the democratic republic of Korea.

Sixteen civil society organizations from Gwangju and Jeonnam, including the Gwangju Civil Society Association, Gwangju Progressive Alliance, and May 18 Memorial Foundation, held the joint New Year's ceremony at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery under the theme "Together with Citizens! Major Social Reform! Establish the 7th Republic!"

The ceremony proceeded with a tribute, offering of flowers and incense to the spirits of May within the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery, followed by a visit to the graves of activists at the Mangwol-dong May 18 Old Cemetery, and a group singing of "March for the Beloved."

Before the tribute, they wrote in the guestbook, "At a time when the world feels uneasy, we wish for the spirits to rest in peace without concern."

The organizations stated, "This year, we must build a Korea where illegal rebellion can never take root again by removing Yoon Sukyeol, the main instigator of insurrection, and punishing the rebellious forces," and added, "Gwangju civil society will take the lead in transforming a social system that values only profit, to build a country where social disasters cannot occur."