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Bearing the rainy weather, people gathered at the May 18th National Cemetery to commemorate the victims of the Gwangju Democratization Movement on May 18. (by Ahn Kwan-ok, Gwangju correspondent)
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May films and testimonies take survivors back to that day
“Have you seen my son? He was wearing a green shirt and black pants.” The 38th anniversary ceremony held on May 18 to commemorate the May 1980 Democratization Movement unfolded like a panorama. Victims of the massacre and actors from May films joined in placing a new spotlight on the 10-day uprising. Jeon Ok-ju, aged 68, took the microphone 38 years after her street broadcasts in May 1980. “People of Gwangju, our brothers and sisters are dying right now,” she declared in a clear voice. “Please come to the Provincial Office and help our brothers and sisters.” Her cry took attendees at the ceremony back to that day in May 1980. The ceremony was hosted by actors Kim Kkot-bi and Kim Chae-hee, who give impassioned performances in the recent film “The March for the Beloved.” “Please don’t forget us. Don’t forget Gwangju. Remember us.” As Kim Chae-hee’s narration ended, an image appeared showing martial law forces firing their weapons while a searchlight shined from the old South Jeolla Provincial Office Building. “The longest ten days on earth,” a caption read. After a commemorative address by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon came a cinerama featuring scenes from the films “A Taxi Driver” and “May 18,” plus a performance telling the story of 82-year-old Lee Gwi-bok, who has spent the last 38 years searching for his son Chang-hyeon – a seven-year-old boy when he went missing during the events of May 1980. The anxious father was seen rushing around the stage asking the whereabouts of his son. This was followed by images of rushing crowds from “A Taxi Driver” and a panorama of images from May 1980. A narrator proceeded to talk about the victims. “Park Geum-hee was a third-year high school student shot in the abdomen while returning home after donating blood for hospital patients. Jeon Jae-su was a fourth-year elementary school student shot while he was trying to pick up a rubber shoe that had come off his foot when he was running away from gunshots. Choi Mi-ae was eight months pregnant and waiting for her husband to come home from work. The victims that day were ordinary people just like us.” This revisiting of painful memories was followed by a scene from the excavation of secret graves based on accounts from special forces unit members. 82-year-old father still searching for missing 7-year-old son “I’m sorry for letting go of your hand,” the tearful father says while visiting the excavation site. “I’m sorry I couldn’t find you sooner.” Toward the end of the performance, Lee came on stage to greet the attendees. “I’ve searched all over for 38 years, but my son hasn’t answered,” he said, his eyes red with tears. The attendees also felt their eyes tear up as they watched the father with his back bent by the years – exhausted by the long wait for his child’s return. By Ahn Kwan-ok, Gwangju correspondent Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]
