"Call Out Mom's Name Just Once"... 5·18 Docheong Guardians Mothers Pay Tribute

The mother of Kim Kyung-chul, the first victim of 5·18, Im Geun-dan, also breaks down in tears

Mothers who lost their husbands or children during the May 18 Democratic Movement visited their family graves to pay their respects.

Im Geun-dan (92), the mother of Kim Gyeong-cheol, the first martyr of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, is weeping in front of her son's tombstone at the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery on the 16th.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

The former Jeonnam Provincial Government Building restoration guardians, along with officials from the National Asia Culture Center, visited the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery in Unjeong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City on the 16th to pay tribute to the spirits of May.

The restoration guardians are composed of families of victims and injured persons from the May 18 Democratic Movement and are dedicated to restoring the original form of the former Jeonnam Provincial Government Building, the site of the final resistance.

At the event, 14 mothers paid their respects, visited their family graves, and comforted each other.

Also present was Im Geun-dan (92), the mother of Kim Gyeong-cheol, known as the first martyr of the May 18 Democratic Movement. She wore black mourning clothes and stood in front of her son's grave. Im quietly gazed at her son's grave and eventually could not hold back her tears.

Kim Gyeong-cheol, who was hearing impaired, was caught up in a indiscriminate massacre operation by the 7th Airborne Brigade while going to see off his brother-in-law who was heading to Yeongam. Unable to hear and understand the situation, Kim was taken away and never returned home.

Im said, "The grudge in my heart and the blood in my body make me cry even if I try not to. My son endured so much pain and left without even calling out his mother's name once. How many things must he have wanted to say?" she sobbed.

Jeong Dong-sun, wife of Jo Sa-cheon, who was shot and killed by martial law troops, also visited the grave site. Jo Sa-cheon is the person in the portrait held by a 5-year-old child sitting expressionlessly in one of the most iconic photos representing May 18.

Jo felt anger at the paratroopers beating students and joined the protests, climbing onto a truck driven by citizens. He was later shot and killed by martial law troops in front of the provincial government building.

Jeong said, "I underwent cancer surgery and have been suffering from aftereffects, and recently my family's health has not been good. I prayed to ask about my husband’s well-being and for my family’s health," she said.

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