Waves of Tribute to the Late Baek Giwan Continue in Gwangju, the Heart of Democratization

Citizens Visiting Gwangju Memorial Altar Say, "Rest in Peace in the Nonamegi World"

On the 16th, a citizen visiting the Gwangju Citizens' Memorial Altar set up at Gwangju YMCA in Dong-gu, Gwangju, is offering a silent tribute to the late Teacher Baek Gi-wan.

A passionate vow to live a lifetime without leaving behind love, honor, or name
Comrades are gone, only the flag flutters; let us not waver until a new day comes
Though time passes, the mountains and rivers know; awakening and shouting a fiery cry, leading the way
Alive, follow; leading the way, alive, follow

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Gwan-woo] The wave of mourning for the late great star of the democratization movement, the late Baek Gi-wan, who has entered eternal rest, continues in Gwangju, the heart of South Korea’s democratization.

On the 16th, around 1:30 PM, at the Gwangju YMCA 2nd floor Mujin Hall, where the civic memorial altar for the late Baek Gi-wan’s social funeral was set up, citizens continued to visit to pay respects to the deceased who devoted his life to democratization and unification movements.

Every time visitors crossed the threshold of the memorial altar, the ‘March for the Beloved’ imbued with the unique tone of the late Baek Gi-wan echoed throughout.

The ‘March for the Beloved’ is a song commemorating the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and a representative folk song of the democratization movement, originally composed by Baek.

Citizens then offered flowers and observed a moment of silent prayer.

Behind the memorial altar, a display featured photos of Baek from his candidacy in the 13th presidential election and a story capturing his life’s footsteps.

Citizens closely examined his traces and indirectly experienced the life of Baek, who was like a fighter.

Kim Young-soon (57), whom we met here, had a special connection with Baek.

She said, “I once attended his lectures at university during the military dictatorship era,” adding, “I still vividly remember his passionate speeches. I hope he rests in peace in the world of Nonamegi that he wished for.”

In a corner of the memorial space, a phrase showing the world Baek had envisioned throughout his life caught the eye: “You work, I work, and so you live well and I live well; a world of Nonamegi where everyone lives rightly and well!”

Baek Gi-wan, director of the Unification Issues Research Institute, passed away in the early morning of the 15th after a long battle with illness. He was 89 years old.

Following the news of his death, a mourning procession honoring his lifetime achievements continues nationwide.

The Gwangju civic memorial altar will be open until 8 PM on the 18th.

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