Kang Gijeong: "The DNA of May 18 Still Drives Democracy Today"

Special Lecture at Sogang University Ahead of the First Anniversary of the 12·3 Illegal Martial Law
Honoring the Legacy of Kim Euigi at Sogang University
"Democracy Is Fulfilled Through Action"

As the first anniversary of the illegal 12·3 martial law approaches, Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong addressed university students in Seoul, stating, "Democracy in the Republic of Korea has been restored by the actions of its citizens in times of crisis." He invoked the spirit of martyr Kim Euigi, who brought global attention to the isolated city of Gwangju in May 1980.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gijeong is giving a special lecture on the theme of 'May Gwangju and Democracy' at Sogang University on the afternoon of the 2nd. Photo by Gwangju City

On the afternoon of December 2, Mayor Kang delivered a special lecture titled "May Gwangju and Democracy" at Sogang University, at the invitation of the Kim Euigi Memorial Foundation. Before the lecture, he visited the memorial for martyr Kim Euigi at Loyola Hill with students, laying flowers and paying respects to honor Kim's legacy. Kim Euigi, a democracy activist at Sogang University, left behind the message "A Letter to Fellow Citizens" before his death in May 1980, and was an intellectual who took action to reveal the realities of the Gwangju Uprising.

Mayor Kang shared his experience in responding to the 12·3 illegal martial law incident, emphasizing that "the DNA of May 18 is the force sustaining today’s democracy." He explained the significance of the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the citizens’ uprising in 1980, Gwangju’s swift response during the illegal martial law, and the process of solidarity with the National Assembly and civil society, stating, "It is because so many people reached out to Gwangju that May 18 has become a part of world history."

Gwangju Mayor Kang Gi-jung is paying respects at the memorial monument for martyr Kim Euigi at Loyola Hill of Sogang University on the afternoon of the 2nd, prior to his special lecture on "May Gwangju and Democracy." Provided by Gwangju City

He then presented tasks for building "an even stronger democracy," including: enshrining the spirit of May 18 in the preamble to the Constitution; introducing a system requiring prior approval from the National Assembly for the declaration of martial law; and institutionalizing the right to refuse unjust orders. He noted, "The right to refuse unjust orders has become possible with the recent removal of the duty of obedience for public officials," adding, "The strength that allowed Gwangju to reject the demand to close the martial law headquarters and to hold joint meetings with citizens also comes from the DNA of May 18."

He also introduced citizen-centered administrative initiatives, such as Gwangju’s cultural and artistic foundations, the National Asia Culture Center, and the "Gwangju-Style Integrated Care" program. One student who attended the lecture commented, "I will reflect on living a life of action that carries on the spirit of Gwangju and the will of senior Kim Euigi."

This special lecture marked the final session of the "Korean Democracy and Civic Practice" course, which has been held since September in honor of martyr Kim Euigi.

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