Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
By Park Yeonju “10:23 p.m., December 3, 2024. In the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol declares martial law without any prior notice.” “My fellow … Read More
By Yousra Feriel Drioua The dawn of a new year traditionally brings the comforting hope of resolutions – aspirations to live better, to be more productive, or finally master a … Read More
As you might have heard, “the well running dry” pretty much sums up the situation that Gwangju is facing right now. When the inevitable water restrictions come to pass, it will be an inconvenience that will have us looking back fondly of the good old days of mere trucker strikes and Covid-19 lockdowns. It will also be a chance to examine, on a granular level, how we got into this mess in the first place.
I like this perspective of love as a miracle incubator. Love as such apparently sheds light on why NGOs in general are so well received wherever they find themselves.
My week in Pollica, Italy, was full of precious opportunities to mark a new beginning. I applied for this camp with one purpose: to learn how other cities, and especially the youth living in them, are working to end discrimination. This is because I have seen and experienced that some people have to fight for their rights, even though such rights are what they deserve, and those who always suffer more are socially disadvantaged.
We are all citizens of Spaceship Earth, bound to always live and operate in tandem for ever and ever. It is our destiny, as it were, to share our collective home planet with everyone else, regardless of origins, identities, or ideologies. From this vantage point, the ultra-nationalistic take on our culture alluded to earlier in this article does not at all belong in any sane and rational mindset, does it? What do you say?
Ask any Gwangju citizen and it is almost certain that they know about “the fountain” (분수대). Located at the May 18 Democratic Plaza in Dong-gu, it is a significant landmark for the city. In 1980, this was the very place where citizens gathered, exchanging words of support to win over the military dictatorship. The area has now become the May 18 Democracy Plaza, and the fountain together with the clock tower nearby are a testament to the very history of the city. To further its function as a city landmark, a new project has transformed the fountain into a new tourist hotspot in Gwangju through the Fountain of Light (빛의 분수대) installation. It is expected to be unveiled some time in June this year.
I want to convey to you, our dear beloved Koreans, that Russian troops will not defeat our country; victory shall be ours. And it will be a victory for the entire civilized world. This will be a victory for your beautiful country as well. We think that you know well what a war or union with a “brotherly” people is. We have a national slogan, or rallying cry, in Ukraine; we say, “Glory to Ukraine!” And the reply is “Glory to the heroes!”
