Chonnam National University (CNU) held a ceremony at Yongbong Hall at 3 p.m. on May 18 to mark the 42nd anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement. CNU’s president, faculty members, administrators, alumni and students attended the event organized by the May 18 Institute CNU, including the CNU Alumni Association for Democracy, to remind us about the meaning of May 18 through various ceremonies. Jeong Sung-taek, president of CNU, said, ”Many people should make efforts to advance the spirit of May 18 in 1980. I hope that the spirit of May 18 which was limited in Gwangju will move toward global democratization.” At the end of the event, CNU’s Faculty Council President Han Eun-mi read the declaration “To All the Intellectuals in the Republic of Korea” that CNU professors issued on May 14, 1980. The event ended with the attendees singing the song “March for the Beloved,” which is an official commemorative song of May 18. Choi Jeong-ki, the Director of the May 18 Institute at CNU, said, “I am glad that we share the May 18 Democratization Movement, which marks its 42nd anniversary, with the members of CNU and other Gwangju citizens in a serious manner. I hope this ceremony can be for Gwangju and CNU to honor the protection of justice and human rights.”

By Lee Eun-ji, Student Editor