The May 18 Memorial Foundation – Walking with the Myanmarese for Democracy

Lee Gi-bong

Above all things, the May 18 Memorial Foundation staff pays its homage to those who have fallen, were injured, incarcerated, and have lost their loved ones, livelihoods, and health while fighting for Myanmar’s democracy. It has been painful to witness Myanmar people’s struggles for democracy and outrageous to have to also witness the military’s continuing bloody supersession on their own people.

The news of the military coup in Myanmar on February 1 threw us in an familiar but urgent state of mind. We, the May 18 family who experienced the same kind of atrocities in Gwangju, S. Korea, first had to fight the disbelief about what is going on in modern days. Some scenes in Myanmar even offered us a strong sense of deja vu, inflicting us with still unhealed wounds. The May 18 Memorial Foundation immediately began its actions to help the people of Myanmar who have bravely fought against its military and for democracy, just like Gwangju citizens had done more than forty years ago.

On February 2, 2021, the day following the Myanmar military coup, the Foundation released a protest statement against the coup. It was the beginning of a series of actions that the Foundation has done to support the Myanmarese who have been on the streets throughout the country to restore democracy.




As of April 1, 2021, along with more than 100 organizations in different fields of religion, civil society, youth, culture and art, May 18 related organizations, and individual citizens, the May 18 Memorial Foundation has been on the front line to stand for Myanmarese’s resistance movement for democracy.



Below is a list of activities that the May 18 Memorial Foundation has carried out to support the cause of democracy in Myanmar. International communities have been also with us in solidarity.

• Releasing protest statements – Done individually as well as with other organizations
• Setting up a solidarity board on the May 18 Democracy Square where anyone can participate in with paintings, photos, supporting slogans, and offerings in memory of the victims
• Holding protest rallies every Saturday at the May 18 Democracy Square
• Holding protest rallies every Sunday at U-Square at the Gwangju Bus Terminal along with Myanmarese living in Gwangju and Jeonnam Province
• Holding culture and arts collective actions: photo exhibitions, poetry slams/reciting meetings
• Collecting and sharing educational materials on Myanmar for students
• Making video clips and postcards to support the Myanmarese
• Holding meetings with social leaders, including the Mayor of Gwangju City and religious leaders on Myanmar issues
• Leading citizens involvements of changing SNS profile, sharing supporting contents
• Raising funds of about 90 thousand USD as of April 1
• Holding nation-wide protest rallies (Seoul, Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Jeju Island, etc.)
• Urging international societies to send medical and truth-finding teams
• Urging influential countries, such as China and Russia, to condemn Myanmar military’s atrocities
• Pressing Korean companies to disengage with the Myanmar military
• Running cyber memorial space for the victims
• Holding exhibitions, sharing commemorating contents, such as songs and stories of victims
• Translating May 18 books to Myanmarese and distribute them to Myanmarese in Korea
• Connecting the Myanmar situation with 2021 May 18 related events, such as the 41th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising, 2021 Gwangju Democracy Forum, 2021 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Awards Ceremony, 2021 May 18 Academy, and etc.