At this time every year, the General Student Council of CNU used to prepare a variety of commemorative events in memory of May 18 Uprising. Above all, the CNU May Festival was planned under the slogan “It’s time to think of the future through reflecting on the history of the past.” Park Han-kyun, president of GSC, said, “We’ll make every effort to organize programs all the people may enjoy and participate in.” The CNU May Festival was divided into two sections. Section I was the Culture and Art Festival for the Literature and Division Art of Club Union and Section II was the Song Festival.
Section I was subtitled ‘let’s get to know the May 18 Uprising’ under the auspices of the Club Union. The Chang, cartoonists’ club displayed rough sketches of comics, and the Bison, rock group played only familiar pop songs like “She Was Beautiful.” Seo Ye-won (freshman, Dept. of Sociology) criticized, “The groups play only popular songs which have nothing to do with May 18 Uprising. I can’t hear any attempts to deliver the spirit of May 18 Uprising in the events.” As she mentioned, it is revealed that the concerts and exhibitions were not organized to cope with the intention, nor were well prepared.
True or False Quiz Show on the May 18 Uprising and Rice Ball Festival were held during this section. About twenty students showed up at the “True or False Quiz Show.” Questions were all about the issues with regard to anti-Americanism like “What if you injure the Stars and Stripes? Will you get punished?” Lee Hyo-jeong, leader of the literature and art division of the club union, asserted, “The programs are organized to achieve the purposes that all get together and enjoy the music concerts and exhibitions, and thereby the attendants can experience the situation of the Pro-democracy Uprising and stir up the spirits.” However, the goals didn’t seem to be accomplished in the festival. It missed something important. The programs should have been directed to convey a critical message toward society from the viewpoint of young people. To meet the goal presented, the concerts and exhibitions should be preceded by organized planning to put together the spirits of May 18 Uprising and a historical sense among young people. It is regretful that the events have nothing to do with the May Uprising.
Section II, “Song Festival” was held under the slogan of the succession of the spirits of May 18 Uprising and Park Seung-hee, under auspices of the GSC. In particular, the performance of CNU Farmers’ Musical Instrument Association (CFMIA) that performed ‘Rice Balls of the Public’ on stage was remarkably eye-catching. They dealt with grave subjects in a very hilarious way, representing the citizens’ protest against the dictatorship in May 1980. Therefore, their performance was lively and simple, brimming with vigor and humanity. They received a storm of applause from the audience. Kim Hyun-ung, leader of CFMIA, mentioned, “It is designed to give a chance to reevaluate the USA and to reflect on the situation of Gwangju in 1980.”
Hundreds of people, including students, faculty members and other citizens, enjoyed the Song Festival. No Min-cheol (student representative of College of Business Administration) said, “The songs play a critical role to deliver social messages, to protest against injustice, and to combine the general public into one.” The main purpose of Section II can be read in his comment. In short, the spirits of the May 18 Uprising can be summarized by the protest against unfairness and the pursuit of happiness. To inherit and succeed the spirits of May, the events should be organized as a real festival inspired by the spirits to stir up a historical sense, establishing a long-term plan.