Gwangju Civil Society Calls for Major Social Reform to Eliminate Discrimination and Inequality Across All Sectors

The '2025 Gwangju Anti-Discrimination March Promotion Team,' consisting of 10 Gwangju civic organizations including the Gwangju Citizens' Coalition, held a press conference in front of Gwangju City Hall on the morning of the 18th. Photo by Min Chanki

Civil society in Gwangju has launched a major social reform movement to address discrimination and injustice faced by various groups, including workers and women.

The '2025 Gwangju Anti-Discrimination March Promotion Team,' consisting of 10 local organizations including the Gwangju Citizens' Coalition, held a press conference in front of Gwangju City Hall on the morning of the 18th. The group stated, "The Constitution says, 'All citizens are equal before the law,' but in reality, why is there so much discrimination?"

The Gwangju March began with opening remarks, followed by on-site speeches, a group performance breaking plywood boards, and a march in front of Gwangju City Hall. The Promotion Team called for the elimination of discrimination and inequality in the areas of labor, non-regular workers, farmers, women, people with disabilities, sexual orientation, and race.

The Promotion Team stated, "Since the 12·3 Martial Law, the Gwangju Square has been calling for major social reform, and voices have emerged demanding not only a change of government but also the elimination of discrimination and inequality." They added, "In the face of intensifying discrimination and inequality, we will resist all forms of exclusion, hatred, and discrimination committed on the grounds of difference."

They continued, "We will take action to abolish precarious labor and take the lead in amending the Constitution to respect labor. We declare that we will act to ensure that everyone who works in Korean society can enjoy labor rights without any exclusion."

Additionally, they said, "We will break the two-party system that fails to embrace diversity and fuels political hatred. Choosing an option in Gwangju that is not the Democratic Party is not the opposite of democracy. Gwangju will take the lead in creating a turning point to change Korean politics, which is centered on two major parties."