May Group Expresses Regret Over Fire at Former Jeonnam Provincial Office... Calls for Caution in Preserving Original Structure

"Reflect on Safety Issues and Prepare Countermeasures"

At 8:41 a.m. on the 4th, a fire broke out at the construction site of the old Jeonnam Provincial Office building in Dong-gu, Gwangju, with black smoke rising. Photo by a reader

The May organizations have expressed regret over the fire that occurred at the restoration site of the former Jeonnam Provincial Government Office, which was the final site of resistance during the May 18 Democratization Movement.

The three official May 18 organizations (Bereaved Families Association, Injured Persons Association, and Meritorious Persons Association) and the May 18 Memorial Foundation released a statement on the 4th, saying, "It is extremely regrettable that a fire broke out at this historic holy site, which was the last stronghold of the May 18 Democratization Movement and is imbued with the spirit of May."

They continued, "The restoration of the provincial government office is not merely a reconstruction project, but a symbolic act to inherit and pass on the spirit of May 18 to future generations," and emphasized, "This incident should serve as a reminder to manage and protect the original structure meticulously so that it is not damaged."

They also added, "In order to protect both the symbolic significance and safety of this sacred site of democratization, this should be an opportunity to conduct a comprehensive review and establish a sustainable safety management system," and noted, "Following the Jeju Air disaster, this latest accident is another warning that our society must deeply reflect on safety issues and devise fundamental countermeasures."

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