Gwangju Civil Society Launches 'Gwangju Declaration Movement for Major Social Reform'

Gwangju Emergency Action, Professors' Association (Chonnam National University, Chosun University), and Lawyers for a Democratic Society Gwangju-Jeonnam Branch

Civil society organizations in Gwangju have organized the ‘Gwangju Declaration Movement for Major Social Reform.’ On the 21st, they held a press conference and announced, “We are launching this movement with a sense of urgency.”

Gwangju Emergency Action, the Chonnam National University and Chosun University branches of the National Association of Professors and Researchers for Democratic and Egalitarian Society, and the Gwangju-Jeonnam branch of Lawyers for a Democratic Society, among others, held a press conference at Jeonil Building 245 in Gwangju that afternoon. They stated, “We are embarking on a journey to create a blueprint for major social reform that reflects the wisdom and aspirations of Gwangju citizens.”

They asserted, “The insurrection is not over yet,” and warned, “If we do not eradicate its roots, we may once again be swept up in a second or third illegal martial law at any time.” They also appealed, “This situation has revealed the inadequacy of legal and institutional safeguards to neutralize illegal martial law. Measures must be put in place to prevent the regression of hard-won democratic achievements, such as strengthening the right to resist unjust orders.”

Gwangju Emergency Action, the Jeonnam National University and Chosun University branches of the National Professors and Researchers Council for Democratic and Equal Society, and the Gwangju Jeonnam branch of the Lawyers for Democratization held a press conference on the afternoon of the 21st at Jeonil Building 245 in Gwangju to announce the launch of the "Social Reform Gwangju Movement" organization. Photo by Song Bohyun

They continued, “We hope that the reform proposals suggested from Gwangju, the ‘birthplace of the May 18 Democratic Uprising,’ will become a stepping stone for solidarity among citizens across the nation for a better world.” They emphasized, “We urge all political forces opposing fascism to engage in vigorous public debate based on our reform proposals, and to translate this into political action for a better society, including the enactment and revision of laws, institutionalization, and policy implementation.”

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