Gwangju Students to Promote May 18 Abroad

Gwangju Office of Education Launches 12-Day Reading and Exchange Program
Photo Exhibition and Uprising Booklet Distribution in Canada

On May 18, students from Gwangju will hold a commemorative event in downtown Toronto, Canada, to honor the 5·18 Democratization Movement. The students plan to raise awareness of the "Truth of Gwangju" through a photo exhibition and performances they have prepared themselves.

This event is part of the "World Through Books" program organized by the Gwangju Office of Education. The office announced that the international exchange project, which runs from May 12 to May 23 and includes a 10-night, 12-day exploration of the United States and Canada, was designed to help students develop both historical pride and a sense of global citizenship.

On the 12th, students heading to the United States and Canada through the "World Through Books Program" are taking a group photo. Provided by Gwangju Office of Education

This delegation consists of 20 second-year high school students. They were selected based on school recommendations among outstanding participants in reading activities, as well as their involvement in the "Back to Books, Together with Books" project.

The students will visit local institutions such as the Korean Cultural Center in Atlanta, Georgia Tech, and the University of Toronto to engage in exchange activities. They also plan to promote Korean culture through a Korean literature forum and K-culture performances. The itinerary includes literary explorations such as visits to the Hemingway Museum and a special lecture on Alice Munro.

On May 18, the 45th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratization Movement will be commemorated at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. The students have prepared a photo exhibition titled "The Great Legacy: Records and Truths of May 18" and a flash mob performance. They will also distribute the English booklet "10 Days of Uprising," which documents the 5·18 Democratization Movement, to local attendees.