Chonnam National University and University of Texas at Austin Hold International Exchange on the Values of May 18

On the 23rd, Chonnam National University hosted a delegation and students from the University of Texas at Austin at its on-campus cultural space, Storyum, to introduce the history and significance of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and create an international exchange platform to share universal values. Photo by Chonnam National University

Chonnam National University is accelerating its efforts to expand the region's historical experience of the May 18 Gwangju Democratic Uprising into a global educational asset for democracy.

On May 26, Chonnam National University announced that it had hosted a delegation and students from the University of Texas at Austin (hereafter UT Austin) at its on-campus cultural space, Storyum, to introduce the history and significance of the May 18 Democratic Uprising and to create an international exchange platform for sharing universal values.

This event, organized by the Office of International Affairs on May 23 in the morning, featured Paul Edgar, Deputy Director of the Clements Center for National Security at UT Austin (a former U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel), and Program Manager Amber Howard, both from a center renowned globally for political science and international security. They were joined by 20 undergraduate students majoring in international relations, biochemistry, political science, and civic leadership, who traveled to Korea together.

The event began with a special lecture by Professor Kim Hyungju of the Chonnam National University May 18 Research Institute. In his lecture, titled "The Context, Development, and Historical Significance of the May 18 Democratic Uprising," Professor Kim provided an in-depth explanation of the historical importance and symbolism of May 18 in the development of Korean democracy.

The subsequent discussion session, under the theme "The Ethics of Political Violence: State Violence and Civil Resistance," saw students from both Chonnam National University and UT Austin engage in passionate debate. In particular, students currently enrolled in the course "The May 18 Democratic Uprising and Global Struggles" at Chonnam National University participated in a deep exploration of issues such as the legitimacy of state violence, the responsibility of martial law troops, and the ethical evaluation of armed civil resistance.

UT Austin students demonstrated a high level of interest in Korean politics and civil society, offering a variety of questions and perspectives. Students from different backgrounds shared historical experiences and exchanged views, building a profound sense of empathy regarding May 18.

After the event, the delegation visited the May 18 Democratic Uprising Archives, Jeonil Building 245, and the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery, touring key sites of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising. By experiencing these spaces imbued with the meaning of democracy and human rights, they deepened their understanding of modern Korean history.

Kang Huihyeok, Vice President for International Affairs at Chonnam National University, stated, "This exchange was a meaningful opportunity to share the history and spirit of May 18 with young people from around the world and to promote the universal values of democracy and human rights internationally. Chonnam National University will continue to expand academic and cultural exchanges with various countries in the future."