May Mothers' Award Goes to Minjung Artist Lee Sangho and Singer Baek Geumryeol

Group Award Goes to Chonnam National University Democracy Alumni Association

Minjung artist Lee Sangho (left) and former teacher Baek Geumryeol. Courtesy of May Mothers' House

On September 15, May Mothers' House announced that Minjung artist Lee Sangho and former teacher Baek Geumryeol have been selected as the recipients of the 19th May Mothers' Award. The group award was given to the Chonnam National University Democracy Alumni Association.

Lee Sangho, who received the individual award, is a Minjung artist known as the first person in the art community to be arrested under the National Security Act. He has depicted the stories of Japanese collaborators, authoritarian rulers, and the martyrs who sacrificed themselves for democratization on his canvases. Despite being tortured and imprisoned for his activities against the military dictatorship in the 1980s-and suffering lifelong trauma as a result-he never stopped creating art. He has been recognized for his contributions to upholding the noble values of the May Spirit through artistic works such as "Those Who Glorified Japanese Imperialism," "There Is No Statute of Limitations on the Judgment of History," and "The Warriors Who Guarded the Provincial Government Building at Dawn."

Baek Geumryeol, despite facing many social restrictions as a teacher, actively participated as an emcee and singer at civic protests that criticized corruption and unjust power. Even after making the personal sacrifice of having his teaching credentials suspended, he played a significant role in uniting democratic citizens with his sharp satire and humor at various public rallies for democracy and a just society. He has also been highly regarded for his dedicated participation in numerous events related to the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

The Chonnam National University Democracy Alumni Association, which received the group award, has been at the forefront of protest sites such as the December 3 Martial Law Incident. Along with the National University Democracy Alumni Association, they have contributed to carrying on the spirit of May 18 by organizing the annual "May 18 Gwangju Pilgrimage."

The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on October 25 at May Mothers' House in Nam-gu, Gwangju.

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