ACC to Host Diverse Performances and Events for "May Culture Week" from May 18 to 27

May 15-18: Play "I Was Not in Gwangju"
May 24-25: "Kkotjam" to be staged at the Children's Theater

'May Culture Week' Poster.

The National Asia Culture Center (ACC) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on May 8 that it will host "May Culture Week" across the ACC grounds for ten days from May 18 to 27, marking the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratization Movement.

During "May Culture Week," the ACC will collaborate with organizations that share the pain of contemporary times to present a variety of cultural events and participatory programs. These include performances, educational sessions, and events that sublimate the spirit of May?democracy, human rights, and peace?through art.

The opening event of "May Culture Week" is the performance "I Was Not in Gwangju," which is based on the intense ten days of the 5·18 Democratization Movement. The performance vividly recreates the scenes of the movement that began at the main gate of Chonnam National University and encourages direct participation from audience members who did not experience the turbulent times of 1980. Audience members join the actors on stage, playing key roles and dramatically experiencing the events of that day. This performance will take place from May 15 to 18 at Theater 1 of the ACC Arts Theater. This year, to help audiences from the Seoul metropolitan area attend and to further spread the values of the 5·18 Democratization Movement, the "Memorial Tour" program?which combines the performance with a historical tour of 5·18 sites?will be offered twice: on May 15?16 and May 17?18.

Performance - I Was Not in Gwangju Photo.

There will also be a performance for children aged eight and above. "Kkotjam," a joint production between Korea and Croatia, tells the story of a girl named Mari who falls into a deep sleep to escape the daily life shattered by war. This performance will be held at the ACC Children's Theater on May 24 and 25.

Events promoting the values of democracy, human rights, and peace will also be held in cooperation with related organizations nationwide that share similar experiences and memories. Continuing from last year, the "Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace Madang Theater Festival" will be held at the ACC Open Madang on May 24 and 25. On May 24, the traditional performance troupe Sinmyeong will present the madang play "Someday in Spring," themed on the 5·18 Democratization Movement. On May 25, the theater company Seire will stage "A Letter from Osaka," a play about the Jeju 4·3 Incident, offering a new cultural remembrance of the dark times of the era.

The performance "Song of the May Mothers," to be held at Theater 2 of the ACC Arts Theater on May 24, transforms the grief of the May Mothers?whose family members were lost during the 5·18 Democratization Movement?into song. Created together by the May Mothers and local artists, this performance has been shared with people across the country every year since its debut in 2022, spreading the values of May. As in previous years, gugak musician and actress Oh Jeonghae will participate, and it is expected that the heartfelt stories of the May Mothers will be conveyed even more powerfully. In commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratization Movement, performances will be held in Gwangju and also in Osaka, Japan, to globalize the universal values of democracy, human rights, and peace.

In addition, a variety of experiential events and educational programs for families will be offered, including the "ACC Democracy, Human Rights, and Peace Short-form Video Contest," "May Stories Buried in the Heart," "May Story Puzzle," and the "ACC Peace Story Archive." More details about "May Culture Week" can be found on the ACC website.

Kim Sangwook, Director of the National Asia Culture Center, stated, "Through a variety of cultural events, the ACC seeks to sublimate the records of historical pain into culture and art," adding, "We will continue our efforts to ensure that the ACC grounds, which include the former South Jeolla Provincial Government building, become both a venue for remembering the 5·18 Democratization Movement and a cultural space leading into the future."