Chonnam National University (CNU) commemorated the 45^th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement by organizing events held between May 12 and 18. The commemorative events began with a mural painting activity held on May 12. Shin Seung-hwan, the president of the General Student Council, said, “To encourage active student participation in the university’s event series, we organized a mural painting activity that reinterprets the existing mural, ‘Painting of Gwangju Democratic Uprising,’ displayed on the wall of College of Education 1 building.” This was followed by several events, including a relay blood donation campaign, a ceremony commemorating the 45^th anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement, a tour of the CNU Democracy Trail, and a “March for Democracy and Peace” from CNU to Geumnam-ro. Kim Yang-hyun, the vice president of CNU, explained the significance of the events, “As the epicenter of the May 18 Democratization Movement, CNU has a duty to carry on and develop its spirit. This aspect had been somewhat overlooked. That is why the new presidential executive planned this event series to honor and revive the legacy of May 18, a cornerstone of our history and pride. We hope it remains a lasting festival of democracy that connects generations and keeps the May spirit alive.” The week’s events allowed participants opportunities to engage with history in a festival-like atmosphere, bringing together those who experienced the May 18 and younger generations.

By Choi Ji-yoon, Reporter