One Year Since the "12·3 Unlawful Martial Law": Gwangju Revisits Its Record of That Night's Response

Activation of Emergency System and Formation of Joint Meeting
Gwangju’s Unique and Swift Nationwide Response Reviewed
Proposals for Institutional Reform and Future Transformation Presented

As the one-year anniversary of the "12·3 Unlawful Martial Law" approaches, the city of Gwangju has revisited its records of the urgent response taken that night. Gwangju, which was the only city nationwide to immediately activate an emergency system and form a joint meeting right after the declaration of martial law on December 3 last year, has now released details of its response process, presenting both proposals for improving democratic institutions and tasks for the city’s future transformation.

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, is shouting slogans after announcing a statement calling for the twin emergency decrees, presidential impeachment, and punishment of those responsible, along with city council members, district heads, religious and civil society organization representatives at the 5.18 Democratic Square in Dong-gu on the afternoon of December 9 last year. Photo by Gwangju City

On December 2, Gwangju City summarized and announced the sequence of responses that followed the declaration of martial law last year. When martial law was declared at 10:27 p.m. on December 3, the city activated its emergency system about 10 minutes later, with department and bureau heads gathering at City Hall. At 11 p.m., the first countermeasure meeting was held to share the situation, and at 12:11 a.m. on the 4th, an emergency "Joint Meeting for the Nullification of Emergency Martial Law and Protection of the Constitution" was urgently formed with participation from the mayor, city council, civil society, May 18 organizations, academia, and religious circles. The city described this as "a response in which the DNA of May was immediately manifested."

The response continued even after the martial law was lifted. At 9 a.m. on the 4th, citizens held an emergency national conference at the 5.18 Democratic Square, and Mayor Kang Gijeong visited the site before heading to the National Assembly to demand the immediate resignation of the president and the safeguarding of citizens’ daily safety. Gwangju City then held follow-up discussions, including a meeting of public institution heads and a roundtable with May 18 organizations, and established a "Regional Livelihood Safety Task Force" to continue monitoring the situation.

Kang Gijeong, mayor of Gwangju, attended the "Gwangju Emergency Martial Law Nullification Joint Meeting" on the early morning of December 4 last year at the city hall's mid-sized conference room with representatives from the Gwangju City Council, five autonomous districts of Gwangju, 5.18 organizations, local civic groups, and religious organizations. After the meeting, he monitored the situation while watching a broadcast with district mayors and others in his office. Provided by Gwangju City

Over the past year, Gwangju City has continuously proposed legislative measures to strengthen democratic institutions. These included: enshrining the spirit of May 18 in the Constitution’s preamble, introducing a "prior consent system by the National Assembly" to prevent excessive declarations of martial law, and legalizing the right to refuse unjust orders. Citizen participation also continued, including candlelight rallies on Geumnam-ro.

Gwangju City will operate "The Revolution of Light: Democracy Week" through December 12. Activities will include the delivery of a white paper, a joint press conference, and an international forum marking the first anniversary of author Han Kang’s Nobel Prize in Literature, with a joint press conference by the Gwangju community also scheduled for December 3.

Mayor Kang Gijeong stated, "Through the 12·3 Emergency Martial Law, we have once again confirmed the vitality of the May Spirit," and added, "We will establish Mangwol Cemetery as the 'Origin of the Revolution of Light' and continue the spirit of May through the remodeling of the Red Cross Hospital." He further emphasized, "We will make democracy stronger and steadfastly pursue the city's future transformation."

Gwangju City also reaffirmed its plan to leap forward as a "regulation-free demonstration city" through the creation of a 600 billion won-scale AX Demonstration Valley, a national NPU Computing Center, and an AI Mobility Demonstration City.

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