May 18 Archive From Abroad: "May 18 The Great Solidarity"
As time passes, the past is often forgotten. This is why we feel deeply marking the 36th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising. However, our effort to remember the event knows no bounds. We are trying to avoid this unfortunate history repeating itself. The effort is shown in this exhibition. This exhibition emphasizes the solidarity activities and the activities enacted by Germany, America, Japan, and the International Society in support of the May events of 1980. The existing evidence comes as great support for rethinking history. If the evidence had disappeared, it would have been hard to reveal the truth.
On May 22, 1980, the protest of Gwangju citizens continued against the genocide of the airborne troops. The road that connected Gwangju to the outskirts was fully controlled, revealing their sly plan of preventing stories from spreading further. So much so that Gwangju became isolated. Before this disaster, Gwangju was quiet and peaceful but soon fear and anxiety filled Gwangju.
Gwangju citizens then faced darkness and an unknown future. Nonetheless, the future generation recognized the correct attitude and behavior that Gwangju took, having no doubt. In conclusion, on May 27, 1980, the new military ruthlessly put down the May 18 Democratic Uprising Movement.
After the conflict, while still under the military governance, the fight to tell the truth of the May 18 Democratic Uprising continued. At times, though, we did not pay full attention to this matter. For a considerable period of time after the conflict of the 10 day struggle, we did not realize that ‘If our stories were to be told to the world, the world would cheer us and take our side eventually…’
“Please let the world know we are fighting as one!” In order to support the struggling democratic citizens ‘The Student Council of Germany and South Korea Standing Side by Side with Gwangju Citizens’ was published on May 31, 1980. The name of the booklet was produced in order to spread the word. This name is touching and this exhibition gives us a means to explain why.
On May 22, 1980, the protest of Gwangju citizens continued against the genocide of the airborne troops. The road that connected Gwangju to the outskirts was fully controlled, revealing their sly plan of preventing stories from spreading further. So much so that Gwangju became isolated. Before this disaster, Gwangju was quiet and peaceful but soon fear and anxiety filled Gwangju.
Gwangju citizens then faced darkness and an unknown future. Nonetheless, the future generation recognized the correct attitude and behavior that Gwangju took, having no doubt. In conclusion, on May 27, 1980, the new military ruthlessly put down the May 18 Democratic Uprising Movement.
After the conflict, while still under the military governance, the fight to tell the truth of the May 18 Democratic Uprising continued. At times, though, we did not pay full attention to this matter. For a considerable period of time after the conflict of the 10 day struggle, we did not realize that ‘If our stories were to be told to the world, the world would cheer us and take our side eventually…’
“Please let the world know we are fighting as one!” In order to support the struggling democratic citizens ‘The Student Council of Germany and South Korea Standing Side by Side with Gwangju Citizens’ was published on May 31, 1980. The name of the booklet was produced in order to spread the word. This name is touching and this exhibition gives us a means to explain why.
‘Solidarity demonstration with Gwangju citizens and condemnation rally’ in West Berlin on May 30 1980. JeongYeun-Ok donated.
Memos from the May 30, 1980 Gwangju Massacre Condemnation Rally Event planning meeting of the Korea
Germany Friendship Association. The late Kim Jeongsook donated.
American media news reports related to the May 18 Massacre
The Japanese Catholic Justice and Peace Committee translated the records of the May 18 Democratic Movement from Korean into
Japanese and English and informed the whole world of the event. Donated by the Japanese Catholic Justice and Peace Committee
