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South Korean President Moon Jae-in offers his condolences to the families of victims of the Gwangju Democratization Movement during the commemorative ceremony for the movement’s 40th anniversary at the May 18 National Cemetery. (Blue House photo pool)

“May spirit” was the phrase used most frequently in South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s commemorative address for the 40th anniversary of the Gwangju Democratization Movement on May 18. The expression appeared 10 times in all. The “May spirit” emphasized in his remarks that day means something more than political sense of “resistance against injustice” or “dedication to democratic values” as politicians and social activists have talked about when speaking of “Gwangju in May 1980.”

In a word, it refers to a community spirit achieved through friendship, solidarity and sacrifice. Moon’s adoption of the “May spirit” in particular as a theme for his address appeared to stem from his conviction that proactive solidarity by civil society -- rather than government efforts alone -- has become more crucial than ever before to overcoming not only the traditional threats of inequality and polarization, but also the new difficulties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Could I have stayed behind in the Provincial Office?”?

Moon described the “May spirit” as “something created by the ordinary hopes of ordinary people in response to the suffering of others.”

“Feelings of love for family and concern for our neighbors came together to form a spirit of justice,” he said.

Recognizing “citizens who didn’t take part in the demonstrations themselves and young students who shared rice balls, tended to the injured, and willingly donated blood when supplies ran short,” he stressed, “We met neighbors who were different from the dictators in power, and we saw the true face of democracy in the willingness to lay down one’s life.”

Moon also said that the May spirit helped bring about democratization “as it settled in the hearts of each and every South Korean,” adding that it had “also provided us with the strength to overcome the national crisis that is the coronavirus.”

“The living answered the call of the dead by practicing democracy. The efforts to share the truth of Gwangju turned into the democratization movement, and May 18 became a great historical event for democracy in the Republic of Korea,” he said.

He also said, “If we have taken the time to ask ourselves, ‘Could I have stayed behind in the [South Jeolla] Provincial Office?’ then we have answered the victims of that day, whatever our answer may be.”

“Gwangju provided hospital beds for Daegu, which had been the first to face a shortage [amid the coronavirus outbreak], and the mothers of May [1980] praised the dedication of Daegu medical workers by lovingly preparing rice ball lunchboxes,” he noted.

“This [May spirit] is the core of strength that has allowed us to become the world’s model for overcoming the coronavirus,” he said.

Moon also emphasized the need for the May spirit to be carried on more broadly by future generations.

“We need broader sympathies for the May spirit, which should be reborn from one generation to the next,” he urged.

“The May spirit does not belong to any one person, but to all of us,” he stressed.

A Blue House official explained, “The May spirit of sharing and cooperation, solidarity and consideration has served as a spiritual pillar for the democratization of the Republic of Korea.”

“[President Moon] was emphasizing how the May spirit of solidarity of cooperation can also be a solution for the coronavirus situation, as opposed to sealing ourselves off,” the official added.

Moon also shared his hopes that the May spirit would be on display as the crises of the coronavirus era are overcome.

“Crises are always harsher on the weak,” he said.

“Our solidarity extends to the people who are most vulnerable, and when they rise again, our ability to overcome crisis will become even stronger,” he continued.

Moon also said that May 1980 should be reflected in the Constitution.

“To inscribe the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement in the preamble of the Constitution would be to establish May 18 as a great historical event for the Republic of Korea that no one can undermine or deny,” he said. “If the Constitution is amended someday, I hope that spirit will be preserved.”

This was Moon’s third time attending a Gwangju Democratization Movement commemoration ceremony during his term, having previously attended in 2018 and 2019.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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