Jeonnam Province Launches Oral History Project
Collecting Testimonies from Direct Participants of the May 18 Movement
To Be Used as Educational and Memorial Content
Jeonnam Province is launching an oral history project targeting local participants and others involved in the 5·18 Democratization Movement to mark the 45th anniversary of the movement.
This project is being carried out in collaboration with the May 18 Memorial Foundation, a research institution specializing in oral history related to the 5·18 movement, and aims to systematically restore the truth of the democratization movement that took place in Jeonnam in May 1980.
After conducting preliminary research on the 5·18 movement in Jeonnam, including investigating and analyzing existing oral history records, Jeonnam Province plans to select and interview about 50 individuals, including participants, witnesses, and family members, based on their level of involvement in the movement and other priorities.
The videos and other materials produced through these oral histories will be used as educational resources for the public and students, as well as content for the 5·18 memorial space to be established in the future.
While oral history projects have previously been conducted sporadically in individual cities and counties such as Mokpo, Naju, Hwasun, Yeongam, Damyang, and Haenam, this project aims to create historical records covering the entirety of Jeonnam rather than focusing on specific regions. As a result, it is expected to shed new light on the overall history of the 5·18 uprising in Jeonnam.
An official from Jeonnam Province stated, "During the 5·18 movement, many residents of Jeonnam voluntarily took the lead in the uprising to stand with the citizens of Gwangju, who were isolated by martial law forces. We will do our utmost to ensure that the spirit of solidarity and community they demonstrated is passed down to future generations and preserved in history."
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