Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
By Lily Song || Gwangju has a global reputation as a beacon of democracy and human rights struggles in South Korea. Along with the K-wave’s popularization of Korean cultural content, … Read More
By Luis Andrés It happened again. I had applied for a part-time job using my Korean name on the recruitment app. The employer called almost immediately. We spoke in Korean, … Read More
By Luis Andrés || During the World Human Rights Cities Forum in Gwangju, the city welcomed voices from around the world committed to advancing human dignity and democratic values. Among … Read More
By Kim Jongbun || On the evening of June 2, I walked into a Starbucks near the waterfront – not to order a drink but to request a refund. I … Read More
By Luis Andrés Gwangju hosted the 16th World Human Rights Cities Forum from May 13 to 15, 2026. Once again, our city opened its doors to academics, activists, public officials, … Read More
By Muhammad Umar Tahir || It was Sunday, and I was sitting in a waiting area of a nearby community center when I noticed something interesting happening right next to … Read More
By Choi Yong-ju || The tragedy of Gwangju in May 1980 stemmed from isolation. While citizens suffered under the violence of martial law troops, most Koreans remained unaware – the … Read More
The 2026 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights has been awarded to Sylvia Acan, a courageous human rights activist from Uganda, marking a historic milestone as she becomes the first African … Read More
