"(Notice) Translated by AI. Please note that there may be translation errors." 

May 18 Memorial Foundation: Call for Papers for the "2025 May 18 Research Paper Contest" (Deadline: Feb. 28)

• Awards totaling 20 million KRW across 3 categories: Emerging Researchers, Professional Researchers, and Designated Topic
• Support for Master’s and Doctoral theses… expanding opportunities for emerging scholars
• Designated research topic "Martial Law" to secure timely and relevant academic papers

The May 18 Memorial Foundation is revitalizing research on the May 18 Democratization Movement through the "2025 May 18 Research Paper Contest." The Foundation has officially announced the plan for the 2025 contest and is inviting public submissions in three categories—Emerging Researchers, Professional Researchers, and Designated Topic—until February 28.

Notably, for the first time this year, Master’s and Doctoral theses are eligible for support, providing practical assistance to the next generation of scholars to conduct in-depth research on May 18. This year’s theme for the "Designated Topic" category (newly established last year) is "Martial Law." The goal is to secure timely research that re-examines historical experiences and analyzes their contemporary significance. Following the major martial law-related events in Korean society last year, the Foundation aims to academically clarify the implications of martial law and explore the sustainability of democracy in modern society to share these insights with the public.

Selected researchers will conduct their studies for seven months and receive award money upon submission of their final research papers. To highlight and disseminate these academic achievements, an awards ceremony will be held during the "2025 May 18 International Forum."

The May 18 International Research Institute has set "Martial Law" as its main annual theme to provide a clear direction for researchers, establish a long-term research ecosystem, and pursue consistent international academic initiatives.

A. Contest Overview

• Application Period: February 7 – February 28, 2025
• Eligibility: Emerging Researchers (support for Master’s/Doctoral theses), Professional Researchers, and Designated Topic researchers
• Research Topics:
  1. Emerging & Professional Researchers: Academic research contributing to the inheritance of the May 18 spirit, including studies on events, figures, truth-finding, memorial projects, facilities, archives, education, literature and art, and the expansion of the movement’s meaning across different spaces and generations.
  2. Designated Topic: Martial Law and the Restoration of Democracy

B. Award Money

1. Emerging Researchers (Master’s degree, 2 papers): 2,000,000 KRW each
2. Emerging Researchers (Doctoral degree, 2 papers): 4,000,000 KRW each
3. Professional Researchers (2 papers): 2,000,000 KRW each
4. Designated Topic (2 papers): 2,000,000 KRW each