By Bae Ji-sook
Staff reporter
GWANGJU ― At the center of this southwestern city stands an old white building full of historical significance. It is both the former South Jeolla Government Office and a shrine to the May 18 Pro-Democracy Uprising in which citizens united and stood up against the Chun Doo-hwan military junta 30 years ago.
After decades of progress and development for the nation, the building itself is a shadow of the backdrop it was on that fateful day, surrounded by tanks and armed soldiers. It is now dividing citizens over a redevelopment project that originally called for the demolition of the office.
Under the project, the construction of the Asian Culture Complex had been planned to be in the back of the government building, requiring the building to be demolished. The office has been empty since the provincial administration moved to Muan-gun in 2005.
Civic groups commemorating the democratic uprising were split in two ― those for and those against the demolition, and for more than 15 months the opposing sides pitted against each other. Some members opposing the removal even tried physical interference by lying down on the construction site, demanding that the site be preserved.
The Culture Minister in September gave in and decided to leave the building intact and connect it with the complex.
Still, it left scars on the citizens here as many are not interested in the uprising.
Just days before the grand 30th anniversary, the downtown streets were lit with white lanterns in tribute to the historical event and posters advertising events to commemorate one of the most important occasions of the city were plastered throughout.
However, passers-by barely took notice of these special decorations as they hurriedly continued on their way.
“I am aware of the occasion, but am not really interested,” said Kim Min-ju, a university student.
Like the general mood, many young adults and venders nearby were indifferent to the memorial mementoes.
Prof. Park Man-kyu of Chonnam National University’s Center for Democracy, Human Rights and Peace said citizens are not as interested in the uprising as they were in the past.
“Since 1980, the citizens united to attain true democracy in the country. When the former President Kim Young-sam government, established in 1993, started a compensation program for the dead and injured, fissures slowly tore the city apart,” he said.
“The whole city was abuzz over who gets how much and who was awarded for what. And there were growing complaints that several civic groups consisting of family members of the deceased, injured, missing and others were trying to glorify the uprising as their own legacy. Therefore, the insurgency became something many citizens would like to forget or ignore,” he added.
The professor said the dispute over whether or not to tear-down the provincial government office made the picture uglier.
“What the relevant civic groups must understand is that Gwangju needs money. When other parts of the country are nourishing various industrial programs, this city lacks motivation and has been alienated from such projects,” he said.
Park said the culture center was a ray of hope for many people in that way. “The protest halted the construction for over two years. Citizens think the bitter confrontations have caused enormous economic damage,” he said.
“People are becoming more pragmatic. The citizens don’t want Gwangju to be thought of as militant or hostile. They want to promote a modern and clean image of being friendly and hard-working,” he said.
Park’s analysis was evident on the streets. College student Kim Min-ju said, “What the activists did was great and emotional. But 30 years have passed and we have to move on.”
Just days before the anniversary, all around Geumnamro, where the old building is situated, the noise of hammers, chisels, drills and others from the nearby complex construction site filled the air. No one was frowning as they walked by.
“I’m an ordinary citizen. But I think it would have been better if the construction had been completed on time. It would have opened sometime this year then,” said Kim Ji-sun, a small restaurant owner.