40th Anniversary 5·18 Commemoration Ceremony Held at '5·18 Minju Square'

‘Even as Time Flows, the Mountains and Rivers Know’ Theme

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The 40th anniversary 5·18 Democratic Movement Commemoration Ceremony will be held on the 18th at the 5·18 Democracy Square (formerly in front of Jeonnam Provincial Office).

According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the 15th, the ceremony will be held under the theme "Time Flows, but the Mountains and Rivers Remember," with about 400 attendees including key national figures, 5·18 democracy meritorious persons, and their families. Thorough COVID-19 prevention measures will be established to conduct the event.

This commemoration ceremony will be held for the first time at the 5·18 Democracy Square, the site of the 5·18 Democratic Movement uprising, since the movement was designated as a government memorial day in 1997.

The ceremony will proceed in the order of an introductory video, national ceremony, progress report, letter reading, commemorative speech, commemorative performance, and the singing of the "March for the Beloved" with broadcaster Kim Jae-dong as the host.

First, the story of 5·18 will begin with an introductory video using films about the 5·18 Democratic Movement such as "26 Years," "A Taxi Driver," and "The Attorney."

During the national ceremony, poet Kim Yong-taek will have a silent tribute titled "The Place Where the Wind Rose," specially written for this ceremony, read by Moon Heung-sik, chairman of the 5·18 Detained and Injured Association.

Unlike previous years, the progress report will be read by male and female university students who are 5·18 bereaved family members, pledging to properly recognize and remember 5·18 not as a mere past event but as living history.

After the progress report, the main figure who holds the actual pain and resentment of 5·18 will come forward to convey the story of her husband, who was unjustly sacrificed at the time, through a letter.

The main figure, Choi Jeong-hee (73, female), met her husband at Busan International Market and lived married life before moving to Damyang. About two years after moving, the 5·18 incident occurred; her husband died on May 21 and was found secretly buried in Gwangju Prison on the 31st.

At the commemorative performance, "Nae Jeong Eun Cheongsan-i-o"* composed by composer Jung Jae-il and film director Jang Min-seung will be unveiled for the first time to mark the 40th anniversary of the 5·18 Democratic Movement.

This piece, inspired by the "March for the Beloved," incorporates various genres such as Namdo music, traditional culture, orchestra, rap, and chorus, and will be dedicated to the 5·18 victims and Gwangju.

Finally, the ceremony will conclude with all attendees singing the "March for the Beloved" together.

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