Gwangju Office of Education Successfully Holds 3rd May 18 Historic Sites Walking Festival

About 400 People Walk the "Torch Course"
from Chonnam National University to Gwangju Jungang Elementary School

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 11th that it held the "3rd May 18 Historic Sites Walking Festival" to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

Participants including Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education officials, students, and parents are taking a group photo before the start of the "3rd May 18 Historic Sites Walking Festival" held near the main gate of Chonnam National University on the 10th. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education

This event was held as a participatory program on the previous day, where about 400 people walked together from the main gate of Chonnam National University to Gwangju Jungang Elementary School, reflecting on the scenes of May 1980.

The "May 18 Historic Sites Walking Festival" is a flagship May 18 educational event operated by the Office of Education since 2023. Participants walked the "Torch Course," starting from the main gate of Chonnam National University (Historic Site No. 1), passing through Gwangju Station Plaza (No. 2), and the former intercity bus terminal (No. 3). Through this, they retraced the footsteps of the citizens' uprising at the time and naturally learned the values of democracy, human rights, and peace.

This year, experiential programs such as "Creating May 18 Hope Message Helium Balloons," a historic site stamp tour, a magic show, and a popcorn booth were further enhanced. The response from participating students was enthusiastic, and the increase in family participation added to the educational significance.

Superintendent Lee Jeongseon said, "Today's experience of walking the May 18 historic sites and learning the values of democracy and community through direct participation will remain with students for a long time," and added, "The Office of Education will do its best to ensure that the spirit of May 18 is properly inherited."