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May 18 Memorial Foundation to Host Joint Academic Event with the Institute of Korean Studies at the University of Tübingen, Germany

• Academic event themed "Transnational Gwangju: May 18 and Religion" to be held in Gwangju.
• A collaborative effort between the May 18 Memorial Foundation and the University of Tübingen’s Institute of Korean Studies.

[Event Overview]

• Event Name: Transnational Gwangju III – May 18 and Religion
• Date: September 18 (Thu) – 19 (Fri), 2025
• Venue: Sosimdang Cho Ah-ra Memorial Hall (Yangnim-dong, Nam-gu, Gwangju)
• Organizers: May 18 Memorial Foundation, Institute of Korean Studies at the University of Tübingen
• Target Audience: Scholars interested in May 18, religion, and democracy
• Inquiries: International Research Institute, May 18 Memorial Foundation (Tel. +82-62-360-0572)

The May 18 Memorial Foundation and the Institute of Korean Studies at the University of Tübingen (Germany) will host an academic event titled “Transnational Gwangju III: May 18 and Religion” from September 18 to 19, 2025, at the Sosimdang Cho Ah-ra Memorial Hall in Yangnim-dong, Gwangju.

The primary objective of this seminar is to shed light on the participation of religious communities and the role of international solidarity during the May 18 Democratization Movement. The program features a diverse range of activities, including presentations and discussions by domestic and international scholars, field visits, and comprehensive panel debates.

[Key Program & Features]

• 4 Presentation Sessions & Comprehensive Discussion: Analyzing the relationship between religion and May 18 from various perspectives, including Catholicism, Protestantism, and the Korean community in Japan.
• Global Scholarly Participation: Researchers active in Canada, Japan, and Germany will join as presenters.
• Yangnim-dong Tour: An opportunity to expand the discourse by experiencing Gwangju’s religious and urban history on-site.

This event is designed as a platform to share the spirit of May 18 globally and spread democratic discourse. It is expected to create opportunities for exchange with the next generation of scholars and foster sustainable solidarity with international partner institutions.

Through this academic seminar, the May 18 Memorial Foundation aims to share Gwangju’s symbolic importance for democracy and human rights with the international community, while broadening the scope for multidisciplinary interpretation and reflection on the role religion played in the democratization movement.