Published by the Gwangju International Center since 2001
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
By Lisa Casaus || There are those who say that protest “doesn’t change anything,” but you can thank protest for the eight-hour workday and voting rights. For some, it has … Read More
Volker Türk of Austria is the current United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. He is the keynote speaker at the 2026 World Human Rights Cities Forum – the first … Read More
By Vibhanshu Maurya || Walk through the streets of Gwangju and one number appears again and again: “5.18.” It appears on memorial parks, museum walls, street banners, and civic events … Read More
The brunch reservation was for one o’clock. The news alert arrived at half past twelve. Another escalation, another set of coordinates neither of us could place on a map without … Read More
