Chonnam National University (CNU) has organizations dedicated to research and activities that accord with the core idea of CNU’s 6oth Anniversary, ‘Human-Creative’. The Chonnam Tribune visited two centers as the key examples of Euiin (righteous person) and Yein (artistic person) among the organizations to find out more about their activity.
Her Chang-young (Full-time Researcher, Center for Public Interest and Human Rights Law)
The Center for Public Interest and Human Rights Law at CNU was established in 2006. Since CNU Law school is specialized for human rights and democracy, the center has provided many research activities and educational programs regarding human rights and democracy.
Since 2007 it has regularly published an academic journal, Human Rights Law Review, which deals with public interest and human rights. Every year, the center hosts an international comparative symposium and a training session for current teachers on the same theme. Human rights activists from many other Asian countries are invited to this training session which helps them understand Korean democracy and the 5.18 spirit.
There are also instructive programs for CNU students and special monthly lectures in the Law School, which are open to every student. Last month, Kim Ji-hyeong, former justice of the Supreme Court who is also known as one of ‘Eagle Five’ members in the field of law, talked about his life as a judge. The center holds annually a competition for Improving Human Rights in School and Human Rights Thesis Contest.
Through 5.18 Democratic Uprising, CNU has accumulated a value of democracy and human rights. Looking back CNU’s 60 years, we should ask what CNU has done regarding human rights. It will be closely connected to local community and play an important role to keep the value and develop it.
Lee Mu-yong (Professor, Cultural Management and Tourism, Graduate School of Culture)
CNU Place Marketing Laboratory is founded to support the academic development of place marketing and city branding under CNU Graduate School of Culture. The major task of the lab is branding Gwangju and grafts it onto culture and arts.
The lab mostly works on projects. For example, we participated in adjusting the Asian Culture Centered City master plan. It was big project shaping the main frame to make Gwangju’s brand, city of peace and human rights reflect Asian common shared sentiment. One of its sub-projects was producing the guide map of the Art Street. The walking tour guide map contains amusing stories of shops, galleries, and people on the Art Street which makes the street interesting and lively so that people can feel its charm.
The lab also developed 5.18 Road (Oweolgil) and made its guide map. As it has 18 courses with five main themes, you can chose any of the courses, and it will take you to 26 historical sites related not only to 5.18 but also the Gwangju Students’ Independence Movement, troops residence, and even the 4.19 Revolution.
Our goal is to keep working on marketing places so culture and art is melted and mixed harmoniously with Gwangju. Besides creating a university brand with CNU’s own story and value, we are planning to produce a guide map containing meaningful places on campus.
