"May 18, Let's Honor the Noble Spirit of May 18 by Flying the National Flag at Half-Mast"

Free Solidarity Assembly Ban Suspension Denial 'Welcome'

On the afternoon of the 15th, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, requested citizens to observe the administrative order banning assemblies by conservative groups such as the Liberty Solidarity and to lower the national flag to half-mast on May 18th at the city hall briefing room. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] “On the upcoming 40th anniversary of May 18, we ask all Gwangju citizens to lower the national flag to half-staff at every home to commemorate the May 18 victims and honor their noble spirit.”

Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, made this announcement at an emergency press conference held in the briefing room of Gwangju City Hall on the afternoon of the 15th.

Mayor Lee stated, “The May 18 Democratic Uprising is a heartbreaking event with the most casualties since the Korean War, and there is no event that has had a greater impact on the history of Gwangju and its citizens than May 18.” He added, “Gwangju City will also lower the national flag to half-staff at the city hall to commemorate the May 18 victims who sacrificed their lives for democracy in South Korea. We ask the five autonomous districts, public institutions, and citizens to join us in this effort.”

He continued, “We will submit a revision bill to the Gwangju Metropolitan Council to officially designate the May 18 anniversary as a day for lowering the flag to half-staff through the ‘Gwangju Metropolitan City Flag Half-Staff Ordinance.’ On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of May 18, it is time for the entire nation to unite in will and purpose to elevate May 18 from Gwangju’s May 18 to the world’s May 18, from the past May 18 to the future May 18, and from the May 18 of resentment and anger to the May 18 of harmony and integration.”

Earlier that day, regarding the Gwangju District Court’s dismissal of the ‘Suspension of Execution of Assembly Ban’ application filed by the Liberty Solidarity against the Mayor of Gwangju, Mayor Lee said, “We actively welcome the court’s decision.” He urged, “Conservative groups such as Liberty Solidarity should refrain from holding assemblies from June 3, the designated assembly notification period, including the large-scale gatherings scheduled for the 16th and 17th, in accordance with the ‘Assembly Ban Administrative Order’ issued by the city on the 4th under Article 49, Paragraph 1 of the Infectious Disease Prevention and Management Act.”

He emphasized, “May 18 is not an issue divided by conservative and progressive camps, nor is it a matter to be split and conflicted over political interests. We will never tolerate the use of May 18 as a tool for political strife, conflict, or division. Our city will firmly respond to any acts that distort or belittle the noble meaning of May 18.”

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