May 18th National Cemetery

 cemetery, cultural heritage / national heritage

After the June Democratic movement in 1987, the democratic demand of the people was accepted. The actual circumstances of the Democratic Movement in May were opened to the public in 1988 with the 'Gwangju Hearing'. In 1993, the civilian government announced the construction of the cemetery as part of 'Establishing the Correct History'. The construction of the cemetery started in November 1994 and it was completed on May 13th, 1997. After that, the 'Law Concerning the Honorable Treatment of Persons who Took Contribute to Democracy in Gwangju' was proclaimed in January 2002 and the cemetery was raised to the status of a national cemetery.
The National May 18 Democratic Cemetery is a symbolic space that reminds us of the May movement. Thus, the place is utilized as the place to boldly teach one important historical lesson that never would immorality or dictatorship be allowed to defile this land again. This cemetery also remains fervent in the minds of cosmopolitans who long for freedom, democracy, and justice.

Final resting place of Korean citizens martyred in the May 18th 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising. Many of the people were originally buried in the makeshift Manwoldong burial site to the northwest of the polygon outline but were moved to the new cemetery completed in 1997.