Keynote and Vision for the 40th Commemoration > foreigner

Keynote and Vision

 

The Significance of the 40^th Commemoration

 

Looking back on the past 40 years, looking ahead to the next 40 years

 

2020 marks the 40^th anniversary of the May 18 People’s Uprising, and the 25^th anniversary of its being recognized as a democratization movement. The May 18 People’s Uprising has been the foundation for the development of democracy in Korea, its spirit continuing on to the June Struggle of 1987 and the ‘Candlelight Revolution’ in 2017-2018.

 

For the 40^th anniversary of the May 18 People’s Uprising, we must continue to bring the truth to light and bring to justice those who suppressed the uprising by opening fire on our citizens. We must also ensure its correct place in history and in our constitution, to prevent it from becoming distorted or used as a political pawn.

 

The candle light protests have ended, and there is now a lull where there was a heightened demand for major social reforms and a democracy that belongs to the people. Peace in the Korean peninsula is at a critical juncture, and we must face the problem head by carrying out concrete actions that reflect the spirit of the May 18 People’s Revolution.

 

The Keynote for the 40^th Commemoration

 

Establishing a community spirit that is needed for our times

 

In May of 1980, the citizens of Gwangju formed a community united in its indomitable resistance against the state violence that massacred citizens and aimed to annihilate democracy. These citizens truly achieved a grassroots democracy that belonged to the people, a datong or harmonious world in which they shared food with each other and thought of each other as equals. In all that tumult, there was not a single instance of crime. This monumental event is a precious asset in the history of democracy worldwide.

 

Today, our society is faced with the pressing problem of inequality. The few who are powerful and rich monopolize society’s wealth and systemize inequality. We must face this problem by returning to the spirit of datong of May, 1980, while adapting it to our current needs. The recent candle light protests provided the vision of social reform, and of bringing long-delayed justice to evil. We must pledge to achieve this vision through the spirit of the May 18 People’s Uprising.

 

In the past 40 years, we have seen the spirit of the May 18 People’s Uprising return again and again, as a transformative force that aims for datong. The 40^th commemoration must propose a harmonious world in which there is no inequality, discrimination, or competition anywhere. We hope that this anniversary will be a time in which we can prepare for the next 40 years, rediscovering a vision of datong in which the unification of our nature and world peace are possible.

 

Visions for the Future

 

Direction and Commitment

 

Our youth is our future – they are the ones who will inherit and advance the spirit of the May 18 People’s Uprising. They will be at the forefront of organizing the commemoration so that the legacy of the uprising stays young and alive.

 

Thanks to continued outreach efforts, communities all over this nation and the world are commemorating the May 18 People’s Uprising. The 40^th commemoration should be aim to establish the May 18 People’s Uprising in international history with increased participation from our own citizens.

 

Because commemorative event and event organization for the May 18 People’s Uprising has been limited to May, we have not been able to pursue long term visions that look ahead to the next 10 years. From here on out, we hope to focus on the sustainability and continuity of our projects, building on long term goals and achievements that span the next decade.