University of Michigan to host 5·18 Democratization Movement photo exhibition

The Gwangju Metropolitan City and the 5·18 Democratization Movement Archives, in collaboration with the University of Michigan’s Center for Korean Studies, are hosting a photo exhibition titled ‘Lamp of Democratic Resilience: Visual Truth and Legacy of the 5·18 Democratization Movement’. The exhibition runs from September 18 to October 7 at the James & Anne Dudelsstat Center Gallery.

The exhibition features approximately 100 photographs and videos documenting the 1980 Gwangju Uprising, including works by domestic and international journalists and citizens. Many of these materials are part of the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. Notable inclusions are restored 8mm film footage captured by a citizen on May 21, 1980, and 16mm film by German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter.

The display is organized into eight sections covering the timeline of the movement, from initial protests and military suppression to the final resistance and subsequent mourning. A special section highlights the records and testimonies of the U.S. Peace Corps members who were present in Gwangju during the uprising. Accompanying events include a symposium on democratic continuity, a book exhibition, and film screenings.