Gwangju Songjeong Station Plaza to Be Designated as a May 18 Historical Site

Historic Site Where Citizens Gathered for Protests in May 1980
Application for Designation Submitted to Gwangju City with Consent from Korea Railroad Corporation

Gwangsan-gu in Gwangju has taken steps to remember another site related to the May 18 Democratization Movement.

On May 9, Gwangsan-gu announced that it had recently submitted an application to the Gwangju city government to have the Gwangju Songjeong Station plaza designated as a May 18 historical site.

Gwangju Songjeong Station exterior. Provided by Gwangsan-gu

The application was made with the consent of the plaza's owner, Korea Railroad Corporation. Since 2021, Gwangsan-gu has conducted forums and discussions, collected materials, and coordinated with related organizations to pursue the designation of the site as a historical landmark.

The Gwangju Songjeong Station plaza is a historic location where, on May 22, 1980, citizens gathered to demand democracy in defiance of the military's violent crackdown. To date, there are 15 May 18 historical sites in Dong-gu, 6 in Seo-gu, 3 in Nam-gu, and 5 in Buk-gu, but none have been designated in Gwangsan-gu. The final designation of a May 18 historical site is determined after consultation with relevant experts and deliberation by the May 18 Democratization Movement Spirit Succession Committee.

Park Byungkyu, head of Gwangsan-gu, stated, "The designation of the Gwangju Songjeong Station plaza as a historical site will enhance the historical pride of local residents and serve as an opportunity to pass on the spirit of May 18 to the next generation."