Joo Ki-hwan, People Power Party Candidate for Gwangju Mayor, Pays Tribute at 5·18 Democratic Cemetery

First Schedule After Candidate Registration: "Democratic Party Neglects Tomb of Democratization Pioneer Lawyer Hong Namsun"

"Will Lead Judgment and Honor May Martyrs' Spirit to Revitalize Gwangju"

Joo Gi-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is offering incense at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery memorial group.

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] On the 12th, immediately after registering as candidates for the June 1 local elections, Joo Ki-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, and other candidates visited the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery to bow their heads to the spirits of May and vowed to carry on the May spirit.

Present at the site were about 50 people, including Yang Hyeryeong, candidate for Dong-gu District Mayor, Kim Yongim, candidate for Gwangju City Council proportional representation, other People Power Party district mayor, metropolitan council, and basic council candidates, as well as party members.

Candidate Joo bowed his head at the Democracy Gate, the entrance to the 5·18 Democratic Cemetery, then walked toward the altar with a solemn expression.

Earlier, in the guestbook, he wrote, "I will surely create a vibrant Gwangju that transforms the future into the present by upholding the will of the May spirits."

Joo Gi-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is touching the tombstone at the grave site of lawyer Hong Nam-soon in the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery.

After offering flowers and a moment of silence with the memorial group, he visited the graves of martyr Yoon Sang-won, martyr Park Gwan-hyeon, and lawyer Hong Nam-soon, kneeling and gently touching the tombstones.

He also introduced his connection with martyr Park Gwan-hyeon.

Candidate Joo said, "Martyr Park had a connection with my elder brother's wife, so I knew well about his time as student council president at Chonnam National University. He was a person of very excellent character, and it is truly regrettable that he died in prison like this."

In front of lawyer Hong Nam-soon's tombstone, he criticized the Democratic Party with apparent determination.

He said, "Unlike other lawyers' offices, he hung a lawyer's signboard on his home and practiced non-possession. When it comes to 5·18, the father of Gwangju is Hong Nam-soon, and the mother is Mrs. Jo Ara. However, because his son was once in the Democratic Party and later moved to the current conservative party, the Democratic Party has never once visited this place where lawyer Hong Nam-soon rests."

He added, "I want to ask whether people with normal thinking can abandon such great people by dividing ideology like this. I will stand at the forefront, judge, and carry on the May spirit."

On the 12th, following the registration of candidates for the June 1 local elections, Ju Gi-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, and other candidates visited the National 5·18 Democratic Cemetery to pay their respects and pledged to secure a decisive victory.

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