45th Anniversary Events from May 14 to 18
Chonnam National University and 5·18 Plaza: Mural Painting
Democratic Peace March to Geumnam-ro on May 17
For the first time since its founding, Chonnam National University has organized a large-scale event to commemorate the 5·18 Democratization Movement.
According to Chonnam National University on May 10, the 45th anniversary commemorative events for the 5·18 Gwangju Democratization Movement will be held from May 14 to 18, centered on the university and throughout various locations in Gwangju. The events are divided into two periods: the National and Democratization Festival (May 14?16) and the 5·18 Uprising period (May 17?18). Core programs include blood donation drives, rice ball sharing, and the Democratic Peace March, all designed to recall the spirit of community and unity shown by citizens in 1980.
On May 14, during the National and Democratization Festival, the following events will take place: ▲5·18 Goods Design Contest (held online), ▲Mural Painting of the Day (in front of the 5·18 Plaza and Minjumaru), ▲Relay Blood Donation (in front of the library annex), and ▲May Film Screening (at the 5·18 Plaza, or Minjumaru in case of rain). Notably, the relay blood donation event will begin with the university president and continue with faculty and students, carrying on the spirit of blood donation from 1980.
The '5·18 Goods Design Contest' is open to current undergraduate and graduate students of Chonnam National University. The contest seeks designs that reinterpret the history of 5·18 with a modern sensibility, and the final winners will be announced on the university website on May 14.
'Mural Painting of the Day' will be held at the 5·18 Plaza and Minjumaru on the Chonnam National University campus. By adapting murals that once existed on campus, the event offers the current generation an opportunity to reinterpret the past.
The 'Relay Blood Donation' will take place over two days, from May 14 to 15, in front of the library annex. The blood donation relay will proceed in the following order: university president, alumni association president, Minjudongwoohoe president, student council president, and faculty members.
During the 'May Film Screening,' the movie "Seoul Spring," which vividly depicts the military coup by the new military regime in May 1980 and the resistance of the citizens, will be screened.
Before the screening, there will be experiential programs such as writing letters to the fallen activists and a May-themed quiz, helping visitors gain a deeper understanding of the historical context. On this day, a food truck organized by the General Club Association will offer a variety of foods, creating a cultural space where visitors can enjoy the film in a relaxed atmosphere and share in the meaning of May.
On May 16, the following events will be held: ▲Visit to the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, ▲The 45th Chonnam National University 5·18 Commemoration Ceremony (Yongbong Hall), ▲Daedong Rice Ball Sharing (5·18 Plaza), and ▲Democracy Path Tour for university members.
The 'Visit to the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery' will be attended by the university president, alumni association president, Minjudongwoohoe president, chair of the university council, deans of each college, heads of affiliated institutions, and representatives of the student council. Following this, the '45th Chonnam National University 5·18 Commemoration Ceremony' will be held at Yongbong Hall. Immediately after the ceremony, the 'Daedong Rice Ball Sharing' event will take place at the 5·18 Plaza.
This event is more than just sharing food; it is a moment to reflect on the significance of rice balls, which symbolized solidarity and care among citizens in 1980. Before the event, Professor Kim Heesong of the 5·18 Research Institute will speak about 'Rice Ball Sharing during the 5·18 Democratization Movement,' providing background on the spirit of community.
On the same day, starting at 4 p.m., the university president and faculty members will join 45 freshmen for the 'Democracy Path Tour.' This tour follows the historic routes on the Chonnam National University campus?Justice Path, Peace Path, and Human Rights Path. Student ambassadors Jeon Bitnuri, Park Subin, Jung Sehyun, Lee Youngsang, and Sun Sarang will serve as guides, conveying the meaning of the May spirit in the language of their peers.
During the 5·18 Uprising period on May 17, the 'Democratic Peace March' will take place from the main gate of Chonnam National University to Geumnam-ro. This large-scale event starts at the university's main gate, the starting point of the democratization movement in May 1980, and continues on foot to Geumnam-ro, the final stage of the uprising. It is a symbolic performance that revives the voices and spirit of that time. Around 10,000 people are expected to participate, including the university faculty association, student council, other campus organizations, civil society groups, local government officials, and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. The event aims to reaffirm the spirit of May through communal solidarity.
On the final day, May 18, graduates belonging to the Seoul Alumni Association of Chonnam National University will participate in a tour along the campus Democracy Path. This route, which includes Justice Path, Human Rights Path, and Peace Path, traces the university’s legacy of democratization and is designed as a meaningful journey connecting memories and values across generations.
President Lee Geunbae stated, "This 5·18 Week event will not only be about remembering the spirit of May, but will also provide a valuable opportunity for future generations to experience and empathize with the essence of democracy firsthand. I hope that, based on Chonnam National University's historical responsibility, this will become an occasion to inherit its values through intergenerational solidarity and participation, and to develop them in the language of today."
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