Mayor Kang Gijeong Thanks Dollinger for Standing with Gwangju

"Living History of May... We Will Honor You With Even Greater Respect"
Dollinger: "With Warm Hospitality, Gwangju Is Family to Me"

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is seen conversing with David Dollinger, an American who participated as a citizen soldier during the May 18 Democratic Uprising, at Jeonil Building 245 on the afternoon of the 18th. He is presenting a book by writer Han Kang as a gift. Provided by Gwangju City

On May 18, marking the 45th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong met with David Dollinger (David Lee Dolinger, Korean name Im Daeun), an honorary citizen of Gwangju and a May 18 citizen soldier, and expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you for standing with Gwangju, which was isolated and without support in May 1980."

According to Gwangju City on May 19, Mayor Kang had a conversation with David Dollinger at Jeonil Building 245 the previous day. The city had previously selected David Dollinger as an honorary citizen of Gwangju in recognition of his dedication to defending the values of democracy as a citizen soldier during the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

Mayor Kang stated, "Welcome to becoming a citizen of Gwangju. The stories of people like David Dollinger, who participated in the uprising and have since devoted themselves for many years to revealing the truth of May 18, are the living history of May. Gwangju City will continue to remember those who have supported the spirit of May and visited Gwangju, and we will make even greater efforts to honor them with special respect."

David Dollinger said, "Gwangju is family to me. It was true 45 years ago, and it is true now, as I have again received a warm welcome. The citizens of Gwangju have always given me much more help than I have given them, and they helped me to be reborn mentally and become a better person. I am truly honored and grateful to become a citizen of Gwangju."

After their conversation, the two participated in the "Democracy Bell Ringing Ceremony" at the clock tower in May 18 Democracy Plaza, where they sang "March for the Beloved" and rang the Democracy Bell together.

Meanwhile, David Dollinger worked at the Yeongam Public Health Center as a member of the U.S. Peace Corps from 1978 to 1980, and he witnessed the democratic uprising firsthand while staying in Gwangju during the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

As a citizen soldier, he entered the provincial government building, carried out radio interception missions against the martial law forces, and served as an interpreter for foreign press conferences held by Yoon Sangwon, actively participating in the uprising. He is especially remembered as the foreigner who spent a night in the provincial government building.

Even after the uprising, until 1981, he worked as an instructor at a U.S. military base, informing the United States about the democratization movement in Gwangju and Korea. He also submitted a report on human rights violations, based on his eyewitness account of Gwangju, to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

He also participated in activities supporting the Korean democratization movement in the United States, including protests against Chun Doo-hwan's visit to the United States in 1985 and a memorial lecture at Harvard University in 1990 marking the 10th anniversary of the Gwangju Uprising, taking the lead in raising awareness of the truth about Gwangju.

In 2022, he published his memoir "My Name is Im Daeun" and donated all royalties to the "May with Im Daeun" fund, which supports those directly involved in the May Uprising and their bereaved families.

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