Gwangju in May Hits Seoul Screens... Special Screening "Again, the Land of Dreams"

May 18 Archives to Screen May-themed Films and Newly Discovered Footage at Seoul Film Center, May 21-27

Citizen-shot Geumnam-ro Footage to Be Released... "Fostering Empathy for the Spirit of May Across Generations and Regions"

Footage capturing Gwangju in May 1980 will be screened in central Seoul for the first time in 45 years. From citizen-shot videos of Geumnam-ro to feature films depicting the May 18 Democratic Movement, a screening event bridging generational and regional divides through the memories of May will be held at the Seoul Film Center.

The May 18 Memorial Archives will host a special screening, "Again, the Land of Dreams," in collaboration with the Korean Film Association at the Seoul Film Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, from May 21 to May 27, to mark the 46th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement.

This screening event aims to share video archives held by the Archives with Seoul citizens and to reflect upon the historical truth of the May 18 Democratic Movement and the values of democracy through the popular medium of film.

Poster for the May 18 Democratic Uprising Commemorative Screening 'Again, the Land of Dreams.' Provided by Gwangju City

The selection includes five feature films and three short films. The feature films are "Oh! Dreamland," "A Taxi Driver," "Lonely, High, and Desolate," "Song of Resurrection," and "Peppermint Candy." The short films are "Mandala of May," "D-Day Friday," and "The May We Lived In."

Archival footage (23 minutes) and citizen-shot footage (7 minutes) preserved by the Archives will also be released. The archival footage, collected by the Archives in 2018, documents the citizen uprising, military and police suppression, and the formation of civic autonomy. The citizen-shot footage, secured in 2025, captures the Geumnam-ro area on May 21, 1980.

This screening event was organized as a collaborative project between the Archives and the Korean Film Association. The Archives provided archival materials and historical verification, while the Korean Film Association was responsible for screening planning, operations, publicity, and side events. The Seoul branches of the three organizations established under the May 18 Special Act, as well as the Seoul Metropolitan Government, are also participating.

Kim Hokyun, Director of the May 18 Memorial Archives, stated, "We aim to expand records beyond mere preservation into active experiential content, sharing the universal values of the May 18 Democratic Movement with citizens," and added, "We hope this event will foster deep empathy for the spirit of May, transcending generations and regions."

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