Gwangju Dong-gu Hosts 'Giyeok-i Nieun-i Festival' of Healing and Peace

Junan Village Residents Lead 5·18 Memorial Event 'Attention'

On the 13th, citizens are releasing yellow balloons, a symbol of peace and human rights, in Junam Village, Dong-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Dong-gu Office, Gwangju Metropolitan City

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Junho] Dong-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City announced on the 13th that it held the ‘9th Giyeok-i Nieun-i Festival’ around the memorial monument for the victims in Junam Village to commemorate the 42nd anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement.

This event was jointly hosted by the residents of Junam Village and Gwangju Metropolitan City.

The event to honor the spirits of the May 18 victims featured various programs including ▲ releasing yellow balloons symbolizing peace and human rights ▲ Salpuri performance ▲ singing of the ‘March for the Beloved’ ▲ recitation of poems on democracy, human rights, and peace ▲ and carrying messages of hope and human rights.

Lee Cheol-seong, the festival organizing committee chairman, said, “Junam Village is a May 18 historical site where innocent residents were sacrificed by martial law troops in 1980,” adding, “It was a meaningful time to remember the noble spirit of Gwangju citizens who dreamed of a harmonious society and to reflect on the meaning of community with many people participating together.”

Meanwhile, the ‘Giyeok-i Nieun-i Festival’ is named after the initial consonants of ‘Gieokhara Nokdubat Utmeori’ (Remember Nokdubat Utmeori), the old name of Junam Village, meaning to remember the ‘Nokdubat Utmeori’ area in Jihan-myeon. Since 2014, the residents have directly led the human rights cultural festival.

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