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Start
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Hotel
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Convention Center
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5.18 Liberty Park
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5.18 Memorial Culture Center
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Gwangju National Museum
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Jungoe Park
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Gwangju Museum of Art
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Finish
5.18 Memorial Culture Center & Memorial Park
We understood basic flow of the 5.18 Gwangju Democratization Movement at the Liberty Park and now, we are going to take a closer view of left existing materials.
That's why we visited 「5.18 Memorial Culture Center」 located in the middle of downtown near Gwangju City Hall. The culture center is right beside the Memorial Park. It has quite large building.
In fact, this culture center is mainly used for the performances and events related to the democratization movement. We will look around a reference room in the basement that has actual materials about the movement.
'Is it Murphy's law…?' There is a sign that the reference room is closed for the time being to reopen the repository… It was not mentioned when I planned the trip and checked various information, but it happens on the spot.
Luckily pictures and a few records are put on exhibition in the lobby. If I didn't find at least these exhibits, I would have made a fruitless trip in Gwangju where I wanted to watch materials related to the democratization movement.
Pictures are hanging along the wall of lobby in black-and-white and color. Plus there are quite a lot of strife pictures, and ones of victims.
Each ones are what I have often watched on TV. These materials about 5.18 Democratization Movement are valued for their historical importance and they were even listed in UNESCO's Memory of the World Register.
We are sometimes surprised by pictures of soldier beating civilians that are unimaginable to understand now.
In a picture, one soldier is about to beat with a cudgel. They seem resistless without anything. It shows the brutality of new military authorities.
There are private records as well as pictures. Many records from journals to old small memo are exhibited.
A sheet music attracts my attention among many materials. It's the sheet music of protest song, 'March Song for My Dear Love' which is still the hot potato at memorial ceremonies.
This song makes me feel strong but soaked into sad mood at the same time. You can get well-organized scores of the song at the information desk of lobby.
We finished looking around the temporary reference room in the memorial culture center. It was not enough so we decided to see surroundings.
In front of the Memorial Culture Center, there are small pond, fountain, and pavilion that provides rest area through a forest.
5.18 Memorial Park is is widely situated in the back. It should have named to commemorate the event, although it doesn't have many monuments.
When you pass by large circular Daedong Square and go up stairs, a space for honoring where you can burn incenses to sacrificed patriotic martyrs will greet you.
A statue of laborer longing for democratic society stands stretching his hands toward the sky. Although it's not possible to burning incense but I offered a prayer in my heart and turned back.
All the events in Gwangju happened only 30 years ago. There must be people who live in night mares. That's the reason why we should know well about and remember this history. Looking around the center and park was very meaningful. I'd like to strongly recommend not only students but adults to visit here if they come to Gwangju. Even it would be good to visit purposely and understand what happened well. I hope they keep the memory precious.
Map : click
Address : 1268, Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu, Gwnagju-si
Telephone : 062-376-5197
Homepage : click
