Jeonnam Province Holds 40th Anniversary 5·18 Commemorative Ceremony

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Jeonnam Province (Governor Kim Young-rok) held its own commemorative ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement.

Jeonnam Province announced on the 15th that, together with the Jeonnam May 18 People's Uprising 40th Anniversary Commemorative Event Committee, it held the "Jeonnam May 18 Democratic Movement 40th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony" and the unveiling ceremony of the "Old Jeonnam Provincial Government Office Plaque and Pillars" at the Yunsun-do Hall of the Jeonnam Provincial Government Office.

The ceremony was held in a solemn atmosphere with about 120 attendees, including Jeonnam Governor Kim Young-rok, Jeollanam-do Provincial Council Chairman Lee Yong-jae, Jeollanam-do Superintendent of Education Jang Seok-woong, members of the National Assembly, representatives of May organizations, and members of the Jeonnam May 18 People's Uprising 40th Anniversary Commemorative Event Committee.

In particular, by restoring the "Old Jeonnam Provincial Government Office Plaque and Pillars," which still bear traces from May 1980, the ceremony added special significance to this year's 40th anniversary of the Jeonnam May 18 Democratic Movement, embodying the noble May spirit of democracy, human rights, and peace, and the earnest hope for a new millennium and the future prosperity of Jeonnam.

Governor Kim said, "The May 18 Democratic Movement was a great people's uprising that fought against injustice to protect the constitutional order, and it is a proud history that gave birth to the June Struggle and the Candlelight Protests. The restored old Jeonnam Provincial Government Office plaque is a historical symbol that preserves the site of the brutal military suppression and the desperate uprising of the citizens of Gwangju and Jeonnam cities and provinces."

This year, the province designated 25 sites within the province, including Mokpo Station and Naju Geumseonggwan, as Jeonnam May 18 historic sites for the first time. It plans to create a historic site exploration route where people can feel the footsteps of the May 18 Democratic Movement and reflect on the May spirit, as well as train tour guides.

Additionally, by strengthening the treatment of merit recipients, such as establishing a democratic honorary allowance for May 18 democratic merit recipients, the province plans to focus on widely promoting the value of the May 18 Democratic Movement worldwide by hosting an international peace conference next year.

Meanwhile, the province also raised the necessity of supporting the activities of the May 18 Truth Investigation Committee to prevent distortion of May 18 history and clarify the truth, as well as enacting a special law to punish distortion of May 18 history.

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