Gwangju Students Tour May 18 Historic Sites on 'Owol Bus'

City Education Office Launches First Operation This Year
87 Buses Provided to 44 Schools

Elementary, middle, and high school students in Gwangju boarded the "Owol Bus" for the first time on the 2nd, visiting historical sites of the May 18 Democratization Movement to reflect on the meaning of democracy and human rights.

The "Owol Bus" is an experiential May 18 education program newly introduced this year by the Gwangju Office of Education. It is designed to allow students to physically experience the history of May 18 and the Gwangju spirit by visiting actual historical sites.

On the first day, 62 sixth-grade students from Gwangju Dongsan Elementary School departed from school at 9 a.m. and visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery. There, they listened to explanations about the painful history of the May 18 Democratization Movement and then moved to the old May 18 Cemetery, where they directly confronted the values of democracy, human rights, and peace.

On the 2nd, students from Gwangju Dongsan Elementary School arrived at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery to pay tribute with flowers. Provided by Gwangju Office of Education

In the afternoon, 58 second-year students from Seongdeok High School took the Owol Bus and followed the same course to experience the history of Gwangju.

Since March, the Office of Education has been recruiting schools to participate in the "Owol Bus" program and plans to support 87 buses for a total of 44 schools. The city education office expects that this program will help students develop a sense of community and historical responsibility.

Superintendent Lee Jungseon visited Gwangju Dongsan Elementary School on this day to encourage the first departure, saying, "May 18 is a history of noble courage and sacrifice that protected our democracy," and added, "I hope students will engrave the value of democracy in their hearts and learn the spirit of respect and coexistence through the Owol Bus."