Candidate An Minseok: "The Spirit of May 18 Will Continue as Historical Education That Designs the Future"

An Minseok, Unified Democratic Progressive Candidate for Gyeonggi Superintendent of Education

History Should Be an Experience, Not a Test

Teaching Democracy as a Value for Life

An Minseok, the unified candidate for the Democratic Progressive Party for Gyeonggi Province Superintendent of Education, released a statement on the 18th to mark the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, saying, "We will continue the spirit of May 18 as historical education that designs the future."

An Minseok, the unified candidate for the Democratic Progressive faction and Superintendent of Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, issued a statement on the 18th to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, saying, "We will carry the spirit of May 18 forward into history education that designs the future." Photo by An Minseok

In his statement, Candidate An said, "On May 18, we remember Gwangju once again," adding, "May 18 is the history that Korean democracy was built upon the courage and sacrifice of its citizens."

He continued, "We remember the courage of the citizens who did not give up human dignity and democracy even in the face of guns and swords," and emphasized, "The May of Gwangju must not remain in the past; it must come alive once again in today's classrooms, and the power of democracy must continue in the lives of our children."

Candidate An stated, "To remember May 18 is not merely to recall the pain of the past," and added, "It is to ensure that the next generation understands— as a value in their own lives—why democracy is precious, why citizens' freedom and dignity must be protected, and why democracy has been preserved through the sacrifice and participation of others."

He also said, "This is the role of education," explaining, "History should be an experience, not a test, and if education remains only memorizing the past, it will be difficult for children to accept democracy as a value in their own lives."

Through his statement, Candidate An also presented his commitment to strengthening history education and democratic citizenship education.

Candidate An said, "I will turn all of Gyeonggi Province into a living history classroom," adding, "I will connect the history and sites of the independence movement, division, industrialization, and democratization to learning experiences outside the classroom."

He continued, "By expanding history education and democratic citizenship education, students will learn and practice the values of democracy, human rights, and peace in their school lives," and said, "I will broaden opportunities for students to experience autonomy by participating and taking responsibility within the school."

He also emphasized, "I will strengthen question- and discussion-based history education grounded in facts and historical sources," and added, "I will help students grow not as mere consumers of history, but as citizens who understand, interpret, and create a better society through history."

In conclusion, Candidate An stated, "We will move from education that memorizes the past to historical education that designs the future," and added, "I deeply honor the will of the victims of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, and I extend my respect and condolences to the bereaved families, the injured, and contributors."

Meanwhile, Candidate An attended the 46th Gyeonggi Province anniversary event for the May 18 Democratic Uprising held in the main conference hall of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council on the same day. The event was hosted and organized by the Gyeonggi Provincial branches of the May 18 Democratic Uprising Injured Association and the May 18 Democratic Uprising Contributors Association.

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