"We Will Not Forget May 18"... Jindo Students' Meaningful Journey to Gwangju

Visit to the May 18 National Cemetery and Freedom Park
Reflecting on the Meaning of Peace through Light Craft Workshop

Students from Jindo, South Jeolla Province, visited Gwangju, the heart of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, to honor the noble sacrifices of the victims and reflect deeply on the true meaning of peace and human rights.

The Jindo Office of Education announced on May 18 that it held the "May 18th Democratic Spirit Succession History and Culture Experience Program" on May 16 in Gwangju for 20 student representatives from schools in its jurisdiction.

Jindo Office of Education conducted the "May 18 Democratic Spirit Succession History and Culture Experience Program" for 20 students in the district. Provided by Jindo Office of Education

This program was designed to help students directly experience the historic sites of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, allowing them to internalize the values of democracy and grow into mature democratic citizens with a sense of peace, human rights, and community.

The students' journey began solemnly with a visit to the National May 18th Cemetery. After laying flowers and observing a moment of silence, they listened to a vivid explanation by a professional guide, learning about the course of the democratic movement and commemorating the noble spirits of the victims. The participating students reflected on the painful history present throughout the cemetery, contemplating the profound importance of human rights and democracy.

In the afternoon, the program continued with a craft experience themed on "peace" and a vivid exploration of historical sites. The students created their own craftworks conveying messages of peace through light, using art to express the meaning of democracy and peace and sharing their thoughts with each other.

They then visited the May 18 Freedom Park, directly witnessing the spaces filled with the tragedies and pain experienced by citizens at the time. Facing the preserved sites and detailed records, the students came to a profound realization that the democracy we take for granted today was built upon the noble sacrifices of many.

A participating student, Ms. Lee, expressed her strong impressions, saying, "Visiting the actual sites of May 18, which I had only learned about in textbooks, made me realize how weighty and precious the value of democracy is. I promise not to forget the meaning of the sacrifices and to become a democratic citizen who respects others."

Hasukja, the superintendent of education, emphasized, "The May 18 Democratic Uprising is a precious historical asset of our society that awakens the true values of democracy, human rights, and peace. We will continue to expand field experience programs centered on history, culture, and democratic citizenship education, linked with the region and history, so that our students can remember history correctly and grow together with their communities."

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