5·18: More Than Just a Number
By Julienne Mei Magbanua It was in high school when I saw the movie A Taxi Driver. It was about a taxi driver who drove a German reporter to Gwangju … Read More
Category: May 18
The May Mothers of Gwangju – May 2025
By Park Yeonju May has returned once again. Fresh green grass begins to sprout, and a gentle breeze flows through the air. But in Gwangju, many still carry the pain … Read More
Walking the Path of History: The Significance of Democracy Road at Chonnam University – May 2025
By Dhivyaa S. P. When I first chose Chonnam National University for my graduate studies, my decision was entirely academic. I was drawn by the work of a professor whose … Read More
The 5.18 Gwangju Uprising — After 44 years, the “memory struggle” still continues —
By Park Yeonju “Young students must survive. You guys have to tell others exactly what you witnessed today. Be witnesses to history of how we fought and died.” These are … Read More
May 18 Foundation: Bringing the Truth of May 18 to Light
The May 18 Foundation was founded in 1994 in order to help develop Korea through the spirit of struggle and solidarity of the May 18 Democratization Movement or Gwangju Uprising. Through various projects, the Foundation is committed to sharing the history of the May 18 Movement and its impact as the “foundation of democracy in Korea” at a national level, though it also promotes democracy and human rights at a global level. We meet Mr. Won Sun-seok, the chairperson of the May 18 Memorial Foundation, where he shares his personal account of the May 18 Democratization Movement, the Foundation, and his hope for the future.
May 18: Lasting Effects on a Life
By David Dolinger I I have thought long and hard about what I could write for you, how I could regal you in tales about Gwangju and Jeollanam-do in the … Read More
Tim Warnberg’s Legacy Deserves Notice: Part I
Tim Warnberg was a 24-year-old American Peace Corps volunteer who lived in Gwangju and worked at Chonnam University Hospital as a Hansen’s Disease case worker. During the Uprising, he remained in the city to help take care of the citizens.1 Tim was selfless during that time, doing all that he could to aid the citizens, and he has long been recognized for his contributions. There is no question that Tim played an important role in Gwangju before, during, and after the Uprising.
Called by Another Name: A David Dolinger Memoir of 5.18
When David Dolinger came to Korea as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1978, the situation was very different. In his incredible book Called by Another Name, which was co-authored by Matt Vanvolkenburg, he recounts how his experiences treating tuberculosis patients in rural Yeongam and witnessing the brutality of the 5.18 uprising changed the course of his life. While speaking with Dolinger (who holds a PhD in microbiology and immunology) during his recent trip to Gwangju, it quickly became apparent how the events surrounding 5.18 laid the foundation for his considerable scientific achievements as well as his lifelong commitment to helping those that are marginalized.