Temporary Public Opening of Emergency Room and Main Entrance from May 3 to 31
Background of Han Kang's "Human Acts"... To Be Developed as Tourism Content
Commemorative Exhibition Also Planned... May Docent to Guide in the Afternoon
Exhibition Features Blood Donation and Treatment Scenes
The Old Gwangju Red Cross Hospital, which served as the setting for author Han Kang's novel "Human Acts" and is designated as Historic Site No. 11 of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement, will be opened to the public and further developed as a historical and cultural tourism content in connection with the regionally specialized tourism product, "The Boy's Path."
According to Gwangju City on April 29, in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement, the Old Gwangju Red Cross Hospital, designated as May 18 Historic Site No. 11, will be temporarily opened to the public from May 3 to May 31. This marks the first time in 11 years since its closure in 2014.
The areas open to visitors, considering both safety and viewing efficiency, include the front parking lot, the emergency room, the first-floor corridor, the main entrance, and the backyard. Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. After 1:30 p.m., a "May Docent" from the May 18 Memorial Foundation will be on-site to provide free guided tours to visitors.
The Old Gwangju Red Cross Hospital is a historically significant site where the wounded were treated and voluntary blood donations took place during the May 18 Democratization Movement. It operated as Seonam University Hospital from 1996 until its closure in 2014. To preserve the historic site, the city acquired and has managed the building since July 2020, and is currently discussing preservation and utilization plans through a dedicated task force composed of relevant organizations and experts.
In celebration of "2025 Visit Gwangju Year," the city plans to widely promote the historical significance of the May 18 historic site to both citizens and visitors, expanding it as a historical and cultural tourism content. In particular, the city intends to highlight its role as one of the settings for Han Kang's Nobel Prize-winning novel "Human Acts" and link it with "The Boy's Path," a specialized tourism product by the Gwangju Tourism Organization, as well as the May 18 Memorial Foundation's "May Road" guided tour program.
An exhibition commemorating the opening of the Red Cross Hospital will also be held. Under the theme "Stories of a Space Frozen in Time, and a New Beginning," the exhibition will run for about a month from May 3 to May 31. The exhibition will showcase photographs depicting blood donation and treatment of the wounded during May 18, the history of the hospital, and video testimonies from related personnel. In addition, visitors will find experiential content that revisits the significance of this historical space and explores future utilization plans.
After the opening event concludes, the city plans to explore ways to continuously utilize the vacant space based on visitor feedback and operational results. The city will gather opinions from organizations, experts, and citizens to develop a comprehensive long-term utilization plan for the entire building and site, and will also make thorough efforts to secure national funding.
Park Yongsoo, Director of the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace, stated, "We will share the history of the democratization movement with citizens through this historic site and make it a space to reflect on its significance," adding, "We hope this exhibition will become a venue for remembrance, empathy, and participation."
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