Spring is coming with full blooming flowers, pushing out new shoots and reviving all things. Students also welcome the spring. They can enjoy looking at flowers and going on dates. When I was searching for a place to go out, I came across the 5.18 Road which commemorates the spirit of the Gwangju Democratic Uprising by giving streets historical relevance. If you want to experience the 5.18 Road walking tour, you can apply at the homepage of May 18 Memorial Foundation. I think we should pay more attention to it as students of Chonnam National University (CNU) because our campus was the starting point of the Uprising. With that in mind I made a plan to create a 5.18 Road–based special theme dating course that university couples can enjoy for a cost of just 15,000 won per person.
First we set off from the ‘Main Gate of CNU’ and walked along the road lined with big and high dawn redwoods that gives our campus more vigor. As it has such scenic beauty, it is a lovely dating place for campus couples. The gate is the place where the Uprising began on the morning of May 18th, 1980. On left side of the gate there is a memorial stone for the Patriotic Martyr Park Gwan-hyun who died for democracy. He was the president of General Student Council in those days.
Second, we went to ‘Mudeung Stadium’ to watch a baseball game. The ticket price for an unreserved outfield seat is 7,000 won on weekdays, but there are some ways to get a discount such as paying with a membership card. Also if you ride your bike you could receive an additional discount of 1,000 won. The Main Gate of the stadium is also a historical site where many taxi drivers led a large parade of taxis, buses and trucks to support the citizens on the night of May 20th, 1980. The drivers of democracy participated in the demonstration. Hundreds of taxis and buses moved toward Keumnam-ro, tooting their car horns in protest.
The third place we visited was the ‘Gwangju Christian Hospital’where a medical team helped the injured. If you visit there, you can experience the cultural traces of Christian missionary work and the modern history of Gwangju. It is a well-preserved example of modern architecture and so is Lee Jang-woo’s traditional house which sheltered those who fought in the demonstration. You can get more information about Yangrim-dong Dulegil at Yangrim-dong Office. We went to the T-brown café at ‘Honam Theological University and Seminary’. The café is relatively inexpensive; the lowest priced item on the menu is 1,500 won. It is placed on quite high ground, so you can enjoy the night view when you visit there in the late evening. We went to a famous snack bar called Yangrim-dong Tteokbokki. Cream Tteokbokki costs 6,000 won for one person and it is only possible to order a minimum of two portions.
After taking the Dulegil walking tour, we strolled along ‘Gwangju Stream’ where the first fatalities were discovered in 1980. Reeds were rustling in the wind and butterflies were fluttering. The last time I visited there it was dirty and I volunteered to pick up the litter. This time however, I could not find any litter. After wrapping up this special theme dating of walking the 5.18 Road, I felt proud of Gwangju and its people. If university couples wish to follow a great dating course with a moderate price, I introduce to you the 5.18 Road that has both beautiful attractions and democratic significance. I hope it can be a cultural symbol which makes Gwangju shine.
By Kim So-jeong, Tribune Reporter

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저작권자 © Chonnam Tribune 무단전재 및 재배포 금지