Citizens Who Protected the December 3 Square Named Recipients of the Gwangju Citizens' Grand Prize

Gwangju City Selects "1.4 Million Gwangju Citizens" as First-Ever Joint Award Recipients

Recognized for "Solidarity at 5·18 Square, Inheriting the May Spirit, and Gwangju-Style Cooperative Governance"

Attorney Kim Joungho Named Special Award Recipient

After the December 3, 2024 Martial Law, citizens once again gathered at the 5·18 Democracy Square in Gwangju, Gwangju Metropolitan City. Some shared rice balls, while others held cheering sticks. The solidarity and participation of the citizens, reminiscent of the square in May 1980, returned this time under the name of "1.4 million Gwangju citizens."

On May 14, 2026, Gwangju City announced that it had held the Citizens' Grand Prize Selection Committee in the main conference room at City Hall on the 13th and selected the "1.4 million citizens of Gwangju Metropolitan City" as the recipient of the 39th Gwangju Metropolitan City Citizens' Grand Prize, and attorney Kim Joungho as the recipient of the Special Award.

On December 14, 2024, citizens attending the 6th Gwangju Citizens' General Uprising Rally at the special stage area in Geumnam-ro, Gwangju, are holding placards and light sticks, urging the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Bohyun Song

Between February 23 and March 23, Gwangju City finalized the awardees by conducting preliminary verification, on-site inspections, and expert reviews by field for nine nominated candidates.

Established in 1987, the Gwangju Citizens' Grand Prize is awarded to those who have contributed to the development and honor of Gwangju. This is the first time that all citizens of Gwangju have been selected as recipients. Last year, the city revised the ordinance to award the Grand Prize to "a single person with the most distinguished public service" and to give a Special Award to individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions to Gwangju.

Gwangju City cited the following key achievements of the "1.4 million Gwangju citizens": defending democracy and completing the "Revolution of Light," inheriting and globalizing the May Spirit, continued volunteerism and solidarity during crises, establishing a citizen-led cooperative governance model, and uniting citizens for the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam.

At the second general rally held from 7 p.m. on December 5, 2024, at Gwangju 5.18 Democracy Square, a citizen is holding up a placard urging the resignation of Yoon Seok-youl. Photo by Song Bohyun

In particular, Gwangju City evaluated that citizens, immediately after the December 3 Martial Law declaration last year, voluntarily gathered at the 5·18 Democracy Square, led peaceful rallies, and recreated the spirit of unity from May 1980 through sharing rice balls, pre-paid meals, and cheering sticks.

The city also stated that citizens contributed to expanding the values of democracy, human rights, and peace globally through efforts to preserve Jeonil Building 245, restore the former Jeonnam Provincial Government, host the Hinzpeter International Press Award and International Human Rights Forum, among others. Voluntary quarantine efforts, mask sharing, and citizen support for international events during the COVID-19 pandemic were also recognized as achievements.

Gwangju City assessed that citizens have created a "Gwangju-style cooperative governance model" by directly participating in policy proposals and resolving community issues through the participatory budgeting system and the operation of "Barosotong Gwangju." It was also noted that citizens actively supported discussions on the integration of Gwangju and Jeonnam, providing momentum for the promotion of the super-regional megacity.

Kang Gijeong, Mayor of Gwangju, said, "The common noun 'Gwangju' mentioned by author Han Kang refers to the achievements made possible by the participation and dedication of each and every ordinary citizen," and added, "All 1.4 million citizens who have protected each other and raised the community in times of crisis are the protagonists of this year's Citizens' Grand Prize."

A citizen attending the 5th General Rally of Citizens held at the May 18 Democratic Square on December 8, 2024, is holding a handmade sign. Photo by Bohyun Song

Attorney Kim Joungho, recipient of the Special Award, was recognized for his dedication to the protection of human rights and public interest advocacy. Gwangju City explained that attorney Kim established a legal precedent for holding those responsible for the distortion of the 5·18 Democratization Movement through his nine-year legal battle to ban the publication of the "Chun Doo-hwan Memoir," and that he was also active in lawsuits for compensation related to martial law and the Mitsubishi labor conscription case. He was also commended for representing victims of the Hakdong collapse disaster and the Jeju Air passenger plane crash, supporting investigations and recovery efforts.

The 39th Gwangju Citizens' Grand Prize award ceremony will be held on the 23rd during the Citizens' Day commemorative event. After the ceremony, Gwangju City plans to enshrine the plaques of "1.4 million Gwangju citizens" and "attorney Kim Joungho" in the Citizens' Grand Prize promotional space within City Hall.

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