Volunteering Review of the May 18 Memorial Foundation

Lee Min-hyeong

I once watched a play entitled “I was not in Gwangju”. Before that, I had seen many videos and materials related to the May 18 Democratizatic Uprising, but it was my first time seeing a play. There, I was very surprised by the huge scale of the Arts Theater of the Asia Culture Center and it was quite new to me that the play engaged the audience while I had thought we would just sit back and watch the stage. Participating in the play from time to time, I felt like I was an actress. That way, I felt more empathized since it was like I had been right there in Gwangju as reenacted on the stage. It was different kinds of sadness and regret I felt from reading and watching videos. To think that my loving family, friends and neighbors were recklessly beaten up to death by martial soldiers broke my heart with deep sorrow. The greatness of Gwangju citizens who mustered courage and fought against the dictatorship at the risk of death were beyond description.

I have also been to an exhibition on the May 18 Democratic Uprising held at the Asia Culture Center. I was thinking it would be just a boring place exhibiting photos and articles similar to what I learned at school, but I was wrong. The most impressive one was a video room where I saw a video of Gwangju citizens protesting in front of the former provincial government building back in May 1980, holding torches and placards that said “Lift martial law”, “Restoration of democracy”, and “Guarantee freedom of the press”. The moment I stepped into the room, my heart was overwhelmed and touched. In the video, people were protesting in a direction that seemed like they were looking at me, and I could sense how desperate they were back then, which could not be simply put into words. It was touching that I felt like I was right there, as one of these protestors. There was another place at the exhibition, where buses and cars used during the protests were reproduced. Their quality was so good that I spent a few minutes there before moving to the next place. Besides videos and materials, there were also models of people standing together, and the timeline of events listed in a chronological order.

Among the events related to the May 18 that I’ve been to, the Gwangju Democracy Forum was the most impressive one to me. The May 18 Democratic Uprising took place in Korea, so I thought it was just a domestic issue. However, while assisting the Forum, I learned that so many foreigners are interested in this historic incident. The fact is, only part of Koreans are interested in May 18 and try to learn, while many Koreans still do not know much about it. But these foreigners took interest in the painful history of another country like their own, had correct understanding of the history, and tried to inform others about it, and that made me reflect on myself. I am a Korean, but only after I grew up, I decided to learn correctly about the May 18 Democratic Uprising, so I am working as a volunteer at the Foundation. Yet, I haven’t tried to inform people who do not know much about the Uprising. Besides, it was surprising that foreigners share the pain of the May 18 with Koreans. I hope that Koreans would be more aware of the truth about the Uprising and take an interest in it.

I have been on a two-day field trip to Changwon and Busan with the officials and volunteers at the May 18 Memorial Foundation. We watched a video, “Centennial War” while moving by a chartered bus. In Changwon, we visited the memorial hall of the March 15 National Cemetery and paid tributes before graves. Walking around the memorial hall, we heard detailed explanation. There were materials that showed so brutal scenes that I could not believe my eyes. Most of materials that I came across before were those meant for teenagers, so they did not contain too cruel photos and were mostly articles. I came to frown at the photos of dreadful oppression on the citizens. “As the same human beings, how could they kill other human beings with such cruelty?”

After the March 15 National Cemetery Memorial Hall and the cemetery, we moved to the epicenter of the March 15 Uprising, the memorial tower, Muhak Elementary School, and the place martyr Joo-yeol Kim was salvaged, as well as monument and sculptures commemorating the Buma Uprising. On the following day, we visited the exhibition hall of the May 18 Democracy Park and places related to Korea’s modern history. Before these visits, I thought the May 18 Democratic Uprising mainly took place in Gwangju and Jeollanam-do, but then I learned that democratization protests were staged also in other cities, such as Changwon and Busan, with many casualties, too. Gyeongsang-do also joined the protests, but I don’t understand why most people in Gyeongsang-do know the Uprising in the wrong way. It is too sad and disappointing to know that the May 18 Uprising is abused as a subject in regional rivalry between Jeolla-do and Gyeongsang-do, even though people in the two provinces fought together back then.

When it comes to the May 18 Democratization Uprising, there are places that cannot be missed; the May 18 National Cemetery & the former May 18 cemetery in Mangwol-dong, Gwangju. Victims to the Uprising are laid in peace and commemorated there. I’ve been to these places quite a lot in school trips, so they are not unfamiliar to me, but back then I thought they were just places for boring history class. When I came back there as an adult, the May 18 cemetery made me feel sad and reminded me of the greatness of Gwangju citizens back in 1980.

I have also been to historic sites of the May 18 in Jeollanam-do (Hampyeong, Muan, Mokpo, Haenam, Gangjin, Naju) on a two-day field trip. While moving from Gwangju to Hampyeong, we stopped by Sang-won Yoon's birthplace for a while. In Hampyeong, we walked around Hampyeong Park, accompanied by a docent, and then headed to Mokpo. In Mokpo, we visited Mokpo Station, the former site of Joongang Market, the former site of Joongang Church, the former site of Dong-A pharmacy and Cheol Ahn’s house, and the former site of the Mokpo #3 Navy Military Police. I had been there often times when I was young because my grandmother lived in Mokpo. I was very surprised to find historical sites along the roads that I used to pass. I listened to the docent carefully and later explained what I learned to my grand parents. I felt proud that I am learning more about history. Next time I visit Mokpo with my friends, I will take them to these historic sites and pass on the knowledge I have learned.

In addition, we went to the famous Nojeokbong Park, the Modern Culture and History Museum, and the Yudal Amusement Park. The next day, we moved to Haenam and visited the site of Daeheungsa Inn, Wooseuljae, the square in front of Haenam County Office, and Haenam Middle School. I still remember a story about a place which looked like a low wooden bench by the road. Citizens who were driving to Gwangju to join the democratic uprising were caught by soldiers and killed in that place. That sad story kept lingering on my mind all the way back to Gwangju.

One time, I spent the whole day visiting most of the historical sites related to the May 18 Democratic Uprising in Gwangju. I went there to take pictures of what these sites look like today, and it was surprising these sites were located along the roads I used to pass often. The place in front of the Jeonnam Girls’ High School where I graduated, or popular hangouts with friends, such as the fountain in front of the old provincial office, Gwangju Station Square, and Namdong Cathedral, were all historic sites, which I didn't know till then. I paid a visit to 22 out of 29 places, including the main gate of Chonnam National University, former intercity bus public terminal, Geumnam-ro, Sangmu-gwan, Gwangju YMCA, Chonnam National University Hospital, and Yangdong Market. It was also fun to find the May 18 markers while exploring the historical sites.

Most recently, I watched a play called “Oh! Geumnam Restaurant”, and it has been a while since I saw a play at the Asia Culture Center before. The previous one was about a painful history, which made me sad, angry, and scared. But this one made me fun and sorrow at the same time. Before watching the play, I though it would be one of those plays on the May 18 Democratic Uprising, so I didn't have much expectation. As it turns out, this play was so much fun and we clapped quite a lot and danced together, but sometimes we were all sad, and I also participated in the play off and on. We were so much into the play that we forgot the passage of time. The play was so interesting that even elementary school students would be able to concentrate on it and easily understand the May 18 Democratic Uprising that has so much detail. In fact, there was a 3rd grader in elementary school among the audience, who actively took part in the play.

At first, I just went to the play for a spin but it was so good that I asked for news updates from the theater. The main storyline of the play was that citizens cemented their solidarity sharing rice balls with one another while fighting for democratization back in May 1980. During the play, the actors and actresses had a cooking competition and it was fun to enjoy exciting music and humorous performances, which made us want to join them as well. The background music was popular songs people of all ages like and received good reviews from the audience. I was there singing along, clapping and chanting cheers, being completely a part of the stage with the actors.