5·18 Democratic Movement 40th Anniversary Commemorative Special Exhibition 'If That May Day Comes Again'

Free Admission at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History from May 13 to October 31

Proclamation of Martial Law No. 10 issued, stored at the National Archives

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] A special exhibition commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising will be held at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History from the 13th to October 31.

Co-hosted by the May 18 Memorial Foundation, the May 18 Democratic Uprising Archives, Chonnam National University May 18 Research Institute, the National Archives of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, this special exhibition was planned to shed light on the significance of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in modern Korean history by examining the records of those who experienced, witnessed, and publicized the events of May 1980, as well as the records of the government and military that suppressed them.

In particular, 15 diaries written by Gwangju citizens at the time?including elementary, high school, and university students, pastors, and housewives?who documented the situation with passionate hearts, as well as 5 reporters’ notebooks and memos that were not published due to media censorship, will be publicly displayed in Seoul for the first time.

Through government records, visitors can also observe the change in the government’s perspective from the development of the May 18 Democratic Uprising to the subsequent restoration of honor.

On the 3rd floor of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, the special exhibition hall titled "If That May Day Comes Again" presents the passionate stories of those who witnessed, protected, and tried to inform others about Gwangju from their respective positions 40 years ago through various records and artifacts.

Additionally, on the 1st floor special exhibition hall, the National Archives is holding an exhibition titled "May 18 in Government Records" featuring representative government documents related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising until the 7th of next month.

Outside the museum in the station gallery, media content including previously little-known photos from the May 18 events will be showcased, and in the history yard, a work conveying messages of peace and comfort created by sculptor and installation artist Choi Pyung-gon will be exhibited.

Joo Jin-oh, director of the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, said, "This is the first large-scale exhibition on the May 18 Democratic Uprising held in Seoul," adding, "Through this exhibition, I hope the entire nation will empathize that the May 18 Democratic Uprising is not only part of Gwangju’s history but also Korea’s history."

Lee So-yeon, director of the National Archives, said, "I hope this special exhibition on the May 18 Democratic Uprising, held in Seoul for the first time in 40 years, will provide an opportunity for our people to reflect on the uprising again," and added, "Through the preserved records, we will be able to get closer to the truth of the May 18 Democratic Uprising," emphasizing the significance of this special exhibition.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.