"Gwangju Will Always Stand with the People of Myanmar"

Mayor Lee Yong-seop Holds Meeting with Myanmar Workers and International Students

On the morning of the 21st, Lee Yong-seop, Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, invited Myanmar workers and international students residing in the Gwangju area to the city hall's small conference room to listen to their opinions and discuss measures to support the Myanmar democratization movement. Photo by Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Seon-gang] Gwangju Metropolitan City held a meeting on the 21st by inviting Myanmar workers and international students residing in the Gwangju area.

The meeting was attended by 10 Myanmar residents in Gwangju, including Myoneja, the representative of Myanmar residents in Korea from Gwangju, Yoon Young-dae, executive director of the Gwangju-Jeonnam Migrant Workers Human Rights Network, and Hwang Jeong-ah, representative of the Gwangju Asia Women's Network. It was organized to exchange information about the situation in Myanmar, where many casualties have occurred due to the military coup, and to directly hear the opinions of Myanmar residents living in the region and seek support measures at the city and civil society levels.

At the meeting, Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong-seop encouraged the Myanmar residents living in the area who are independently carrying out activities opposing the Myanmar military coup and supporting democratization, and identified their difficulties and what is currently most needed.

The attending Myanmar residents said, "We sincerely appreciate the efforts and activities of Gwangju City and civic groups supporting Myanmar's democratization movement."

They added, "In Myanmar, casualties are increasing daily, and the situation is worsening with internet, mobile, and SNS being blocked," and requested, "Please support the citizens conducting civil disobedience movements in Myanmar."

They also said, "There needs to be a structure for Gwangju City and civil society organizations to communicate more with Myanmar residents in Gwangju and share information, and considerable costs are involved in gatherings and the like."

Furthermore, they stated, "Immediate support for food and medicine is necessary, but we hope that mid- to long-term support plans will also be devised in preparation for the post-situation in Myanmar."

In response, Mayor Lee Yong-seop said, "I express my deep condolences for the many Myanmar citizens who have been sacrificed due to the bloody suppression by the military coup forces in your homeland Myanmar," and added, "Gwangju, a city of democracy, human rights, and peace, strongly condemns the undemocratic violence of the Myanmar military through local governments, civic groups, and citizens, and urges an immediate halt."

He continued, "We will carefully reflect on the opinions given today and seek systematic and effective support measures."

He encouraged, "Just as our Gwangju in May 1980 took step by step toward the light in the darkness to achieve democracy, I hope the Myanmar people will not lose courage and move toward the light of hope," and stated, "Gwangju City hopes Myanmar will quickly restore democracy and a peaceful system, and will closely cooperate domestically and internationally to this end."

Meanwhile, on the 22nd, Gwangju City will hold a meeting at the City Hall Business Room with religious organizations, the city council, the city education office, the May 18 Memorial Foundation, and the Myanmar Gwangju Solidarity to discuss practical measures to oppose the Myanmar military coup and support democratization.

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