May 18 Memorial Foundation to host a variety of academic and cultural events(Aug. 30 - 31)

- Special sessions in conjunction with the 2024 May 18 International Forum and a screening of the Sewol Ferry documentary Gray Zone

The May 18 Memorial Foundation will hold various events spanning academia and culture from August 30 to 31.

On the morning of August 30, the “2024 May 18 International Forum: The Future of Memory, Commemoration, and Solidarity - Special Session” co-hosted with the Council of Democratic Research Organizations will be held under the theme of “Sites of Commemoration, Old Futures” and moderated by Professor Kim Hyung-joo (Chonnam National University).

The special session will open with a presentation by Professor Kim Tae-hyun (Hankuk University of Foreign Studies) on “An Old Future and a Brave New World: Observations and Analysis on Cultural Memory Institutions of Democratic Organizations.” The presentation will point out the ambivalent nature of various democratic institutions established as the pro-democracy movement was institutionalized after the June 10, 1987 uprising, and suggest the need for a critical analysis of how each democratic institution should develop in this contradictory situation.

The discussion following the presentation will be led by a researcher from the Association of Democratic Research Organizations. Lee Dong-moon, director of the Institute for Democratic Society at the Busan Democratic Uprising Memorial Project, points out that democratic public institutions need to resolve the gap between generalists and specialists, and calls for a convergence between historical knowledge of the democratic movement and the public's artistic approach. Lee Dong-hyun, director of the Jeju 4‧3 Research Institute, emphasized the importance of passing on the democratic movement from generation to generation, and said that the challenge is to get younger generations to recognize the 4‧3 incident as a current issue, not just a historical fact. Lee Young-jae, head of the historical research team at the Democratic Movement Commemorative Association, explains that the institutionalization of memory can be a double-edged sword, as cultural memory institutions fail to implement ideal governance between civil society and the government, and are swayed by pressure from both sides. Dr. Lee Oh-sung, Deputy Director of the Yeosu Community Research Institute, points out that despite the historical background of modern technologies such as digital archives, the archives of many democratic memory institutions are still closed and the quality of research is lacking.

Following the special session of the Council of Democratic Research Organizations, delegate meetings and workshops will be held.

On the afternoon of the 30th, a cultural event of the “2024 May 18 International Forum” will be held. Prof. Kim Min-hwan (Hanshin University) will watch the Sewol Sewol documentary “Gray Zone” with citizens, followed by a discussion with Park Rae-gun, Chairman of the 4‧16 Foundation.

The Council of Democracy Research Organizations is a democratic movement research/conference that includes the 4‧9 Inhyeok Foundation, the Institute of Democracy and Society of the Busan Democratic Uprising Memorial Project, the Yeosu Community Research Institute, the Jeju 4‧3 Institute, the 5‧18 Memorial Foundation, the Korea Democracy Institute of the Democratization Movement Memorial Project, and the 5‧18 Institute of Jeonnam National University. It seeks to strengthen its homogeneity as a knowledge alliance by holding joint academic conferences and workshops every year.

- Event Overview

1) Event Name: 2024 May 18 International Forum: The Future of Memory, Commemoration, and Solidarity - Special Sessions and Workshops

2) Event Date: August 30 ~ 31, 2024

3) Venues: Daedong Hall of the May 18 Memorial Cultural Center, May 18 Historic Sites, etc. in Gwangju

Inquiries: Kang Si-jin, May 18 International Institute (+82 062-360-0574, ksj@518.org) 

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