46th Anniversary of the May 18th Democratic Uprising: Reflecting on Its Significance

The May 18th Democratic Uprising, which began in Gwangju in May 1980, has reached its 46th anniversary. We revisit the message that the spirit of citizens and students who fought for democracy at the time conveys to our society today.

Following the October 26th incident in 1979, aspirations for democratization grew, but the military soon seized power. In May 1980, as martial law was declared nationwide, citizens and university students in Gwangju took to the streets in protest.

The May 18th Democratic Uprising has been recognized as a symbol of Korean democracy, and its related records have been inscribed on the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. The government will host the 46th anniversary ceremony of the May 18th Democratic Uprising at Democracy Square in front of the former South Jeolla Provincial Hall. The inclusion of the May 18th Democratic Uprising in the preamble of the Constitution is being discussed.

Suspected human remains have been discovered during excavation work at an alleged mass grave site related to the May 18th incident. A total of 448 people have been reported missing in connection with the May 18th incident.