Category: Features

Human Rights

May 18 Education Forum 2022: An Interview with the Speakers 

Gwangju News

The month of May in Gwangju is for remembering thousands of Gwangju citizens who rose up against the military junta oppression in May 1980, those who survived, and those who did not, and as such, is marked by various events and vigils. Among the many events keeping the spirit of the Gwangju Democratization Movement alive, the May 18 Education Forum took place last May 27 under the title “May 18 Democratic Uprising Meets Swedish Civic Education.”  The Forum focused on exchange in the area of democratic civic education through a conversation with the invited educators from Sweden, where political participation through civic education has already become commonplace.

Profile

A Doctor for the Weak and Displaced: Interview with Dr. Cynthia Maung, Winner of the 2022 May 18 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights 

Gwangju News

On May 19, 2022, Doctor Cynthia Maung was interviewed for GFN’s face2face program. Dr. Maung had just been awarded the May 18 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights award by the May 18 Memorial Foundation for her work providing health services to displaced persons and migrant workers at the Mae Tao Clinic, which she founded in 1988. The clinic is located in a refugee camp on the border of Myanmar and Thailand to provide medical assistance to Myanmar refugees who fled to the Thai border due to the oppression of the Myanmar military. Here is our interview with her.

May 18 Profile

Called by Another Name: A David Dolinger Memoir of 5.18

Gwangju News

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.

Lost in Gwangju/Honam May 18

Unhealed Light: Drawing Inspiration from Kim Eun-ju’s 5.18 Photography 

Gwangju News

Kim Eun-ju has spent many years behind the lens capturing images not only of first-hand survivors and the bereft of the Gwangju Uprising, but also of the Jeju Uprising and the Dirty War of Argentina.

Current Issues May 18

Fountain of Light: Carrying the Spirit of May 18 Through Media Arts 

Gwangju News

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. 

May 18 Profile

Interview with Song Seon-tae: Head of the May 18 Democratization Movement Truth Commission

Gwangju News

The indebtedness of the survivors of May 18 should not be trapped by inaction but rather spurred into action to give back. The dedication of the survivors has managed to reveal the truth of the uprising with the help of national and international organizations, as well as activists and even non-activists.

Profile

Making Filmmaking Personal: An Interview with Roberto Santaguida

Gwangju News

Roberto Santaguida is a Canadian filmmaker working extensively in the field of documentary and experimental films. He completed his studies in film production at Concordia University, and his work has been screened at more than 400 international festivals, some of which are the Tampere Film Festival in Finland, the CPH:DOX in Denmark, the Contemporary Art Festival Sesc_Videobrasil in Brazil, Flickers’ Rhode Island International Film Festival in the United States, and Message to Man in Russia.

Current Issues

“Glory to Ukraine!” “Victory Shall Be Ours”

Gwangju News

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!”