Buk-gu Gwangju Promotes Memorial Project for Civilian Victims of the Korean War

To Be Implemented in the First Half of the Year, Including Installation of Memorial Monuments

Gwangju Buk-gu is launching a memorial project for civilian victims who died in the region during and around the Korean War.

According to Buk-gu on the 16th, this project is a new policy being implemented for the first time this year to honor the souls of those who were innocently sacrificed by government authorities during the Korean War and to comfort the pain of their bereaved families.

Gwangju Bukgu District Office building exterior.

Earlier, on the 4th, the district held a meeting attended by more than 20 civic organizations, including the Gwangju Bereaved Families Association, to discuss the installation of memorial monuments and the holding of memorial ceremonies. Subsequently, the "Gwangju Buk-gu Ordinance on Supporting Memorial Projects for Civilian Victims Before and After the Korean War," proposed by Councilor Jeong Dalseong, was passed.

In March, the necessary budget will be allocated in the first supplementary budget plan, and the project will be carried out in the first half of the year. In addition, to honor the innocent victims and address the grievances of their families, memorial monuments will be installed in June at three sites where mass casualties occurred during the Korean War: Bulgonggogae in Dongnim-dong, Janggobonggogae in Yangsan-dong, and Dodonggogae in Munheung-dong. In July, a joint memorial ceremony will be held to commemorate the souls of the victims.

District Mayor Moon In said, "This year marks the meaningful 75th anniversary of the Korean War, so we will do our utmost to ensure the smooth implementation of the memorial project."

Meanwhile, it was revealed through an investigation by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission that more than 2,300 inmates imprisoned at Gwangju Prison were massacred in Gwangju Buk-gu during the Korean War. Among the victims was Jang Jaeseong, an independence activist who led the Gwangju Student Independence Movement.

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