The team behind the restoration of the former Jeonnam Provincial Office has donated half of their recent bonus to support the recovery of remains from the May 18 Democratic Movement. This gesture goes beyond a simple act of goodwill within the public sector, as it highlights the commitment of government officials to assist in the critical task of locating missing persons related to the movement.
◆ Reward for Hard Work, Donated to Address Remaining Issues of May 18
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 23, five members of the former Jeonnam Provincial Office Restoration Team, including Lee Dong-jun, head of restoration cooperation, Park Hee-kyung, administrative officer, Lim Se-kyung, research curator, and officials Lee Ga-young and Kim Yu-jin, donated 5 million won out of their 10 million won bonus from the third special performance award to the May 18 Memorial Foundation.
These officials successfully led major events, including the opening of the restored former Jeonnam Provincial Office and a special exhibition and commemorative performance in May. They were recognized for their contributions to the project and selected as recipients of the special performance award.
Instead of dividing the bonus among themselves, they chose to donate it to honor the historical significance of the May 18 movement, aiming to comfort families still suffering from uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones and to contribute to the truth-finding efforts. The donation will be fully allocated by the May 18 Memorial Foundation for activities such as remains recovery, identification of victims, and truth-seeking initiatives.
◆ 46 Years of Waiting... The Significance of 'Burial Remains Recovery'
The donation is particularly significant as it supports the 'burial remains recovery project.' During the military suppression in May 1980, many citizens lost their lives, and numerous bodies were buried in secret to conceal the truth of the events.
Currently, there are over 70 officially recognized missing persons from the May 18 incident. Despite the passage of 46 years, many victims have yet to return to their families.
The recovery of remains is not merely about retrieving bones; it is a crucial process in uncovering the reality of human rights violations perpetrated by state violence and revealing the circumstances surrounding the concealment and desecration of bodies, thus piecing together the remaining puzzle of the May 18 incident.
The conditions for excavation work are challenging. Over the past 46 years, the landscape around the presumed burial sites has changed significantly, and the aging of witnesses who can testify about the events is progressing rapidly. Organizations related to the May 18 movement emphasize the need for ongoing budget support and assistance for investigations and DNA matching to ensure the truth is uncovered.
◆ Healing Historical Wounds Beyond Building Restoration
The former Jeonnam Provincial Office is a symbolic space where citizens stood against the military during the May 1980 uprising, representing the birth of Korean democracy. For the restoration team, the building holds more than just architectural significance; it embodies the historical legacy of the May 18 movement.
Thus, the voluntary donation by the officials leading the restoration is expected to reignite public awareness of the remains recovery efforts, which could easily be forgotten.
Lee Dong-jun, the head of restoration cooperation, expressed, "The process of restoring the former Jeonnam Provincial Office was not just about reviving a building; it was a time to reflect on the history and significance of K-democracy." He added, "We hope this collective donation will help find the victims who have yet to return to their families and fully uncover the truth of May 18."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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