By Rigoberto Banta Jr., Head Student Editor

 

    “Gwangju’s Son”, Park Gwan-hyun’s 30^th Death Anniversary was remembered through various activities in Chonnam National University (CNU) last October 5, 2012. The commemoration started with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Park Gwan-hyun’s memorial stone located in front of the College of Law at 2PM.

    Park, considered to be a patriotic martyr, was the president of the CNU General Student Council (GSC) in 1980. As a student leader, he was one of the leaders of the May 18 Movement amongst many other events that contributed to the democratization process in Gwangju and in the nation. He died in 1982 after forty days of hunger strike demanding a full investigation on the May 18.

   The commemoration as well held an academic conference on student activism at CNU Gwangju Hall where Lee Chang-on, a researcher-professor from Yonsei University presented on student activism in South Korea and Professor Cho Chung-gwan from the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy, presented about the democratization movements in Gwangju and Park Gwan-hyun. 

    The day ended with a book publishing ceremony of the book entitled “Dawn Locomotive: A Critical Biography of Park Gwan-hyun” at CNU’s Yongbong Hall. On the other hand, a memorial ceremony will be held on October 12 at the May 18 National Cemetery for the 30^th anniversary of Park Gwan-hyun’s sacrifice.