For Thee and All the World to See: May 18 Gwangju and the Visual Tenacities of South Korean Democracy

Presented as part of the University of Michigan’s Democracy Week, this symposium explores the enduring legacy of the May 18, 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the role of visual media in shaping South Korea’s democratic consciousness. Organized in conjunction with an exhibition of 90 curated images from the Gwangju 5·18 Archives on campus, the event bridges historical analysis with living memory. Survivors and eyewitnesses will share their reflections alongside scholars to examine how images and personal testimony break through censorship and serve as vital tools for historical justice—connecting Gwangju’s struggle to global conversations on human rights.

This event is co-sponsored by the May 18 Archives, Center for Democracy & Civic Empowerment, Department of Political Science, Center for Emerging Democracies, the Donia Human Rights Center, and Asia Library.

If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.