Governor Kim Youngrok Expresses Condolences on the Passing of An Seongrae, First Director of May Mothers' House

A Great Elder Who Transformed the Wounds of May into Solidarity
"We Will Strive to Uphold the Spirit of May in Her Memory"

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province

Kim Youngrok, Governor of Jeonnam Province, expressed his condolences on December 29 following the passing of the late An Seongrae, the first director of the May Mothers’ House.

In his condolence message that day, Governor Kim stated, “The late Director An Seongrae embraced the pain of the Gwangju 5·18 with her whole being and transformed those wounds into the power of solidarity, becoming a great elder of our time. Together with the people of Jeonnam, I share in this deep sorrow and pray for her soul to rest in peace.”

The late former Director An Seongrae, a native of Hampyeong, worked as a nurse at Gwangju Christian Hospital in May 1980 and witnessed the horrors of the massacre during the 5·18 Democratization Movement firsthand. She played a leading role as both a witness and an activist in the democratization movement, calling for blood donations from citizens and informing foreign journalists of the truth.

Afterward, she continued her involvement in the democratization movement by supporting her late husband, Professor Myeong Nogun, during his imprisonment. She also served as a member of the Gwangju City Council and as chair of the 5·18 Gwangju Issues Special Committee, dedicating herself to restoring democracy and uncovering the truth.

Governor Kim said, “Jeonnam Province will do its utmost to honor her legacy and uphold the spirit of May. Through the inclusion of the 'Spirit of May' in the preamble of the Constitution, which is the first national agenda item of the people's sovereignty government, and the establishment of a 5·18 memorial space in Jeonnam Province, we will reaffirm the identity of our democratic republic and pass on the spirit of May to future generations.”