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

May 18 Memorial Foundation to Nurture Next-Generation Scholars via the “May Lab” Young Researchers Workshop

- Featuring Academic Symposiums, Mentoring, Networking, and Field Trips (June 25 – 27) - - Now in its 5th year, the initiative aims to ensure the continuity of May 18 research ahead of its 50th anniversary -

The May 18 International Research Institute, under the May 18 Memorial Foundation (Chairman Yoon Mok-hyun), will host the “2026 May 18 Young Researchers Workshop: May Lab” for three days from June 25 to 27 at the May 18 Memorial & Culture Center and various historical sites.

The workshop is organized to stimulate academic interest among emerging scholars and to ensure the sustainability of research on the May 18 Democratization Movement as the 50th anniversary approaches in 2030.

Now in its fifth year, the 2026 workshop will feature 10 graduate students (Master’s and Doctoral candidates) from prestigious domestic and international institutions, including Vanderbilt University (USA), Pusan National University, Seoul National University, Yeungnam University, Chonnam National University, and Honam University. Participants will share their research topics and interests while building a professional network of May 18 researchers. This workshop provides a vital platform for the post-uprising generations to engage with May 18 academically and grow into professional researchers in the field.

The workshop program is structured as follows:

• Day 1: Academic symposium featuring winners and awardees of the May 18 Thesis Competition.
• Day 2: Special lecture by Professor Bae Ha-eun (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, DGIST), followed by group mentoring and networking sessions.
• Day 3: Visit to the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery to pay respects and a field trip to major historical sites.

Since its inception in 2022, a total of 73 researchers have participated in the May 18 Young Researchers Workshop. Through this program, the Foundation hopes that graduate students from around the world will deepen their understanding of the history and significance of May 18—as well as the values of freedom, justice, democracy, human rights, and peace—fostering continuous academic discourse for years to come.