DAEYONG KIM

PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION ‘HELLO! DEMOCRACY’

My area of responsibility at the Asia Culture Institute was curating special exhibitions when it comes to democracy, human rights, and peace (what means special is to commemorate, remember, and recall for the national celebration day in South Korea). In collaboration with the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, a special photo exhibition called ‘Hello! Democracy’ was held to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Although the exhibition debuted at ACC, MUCH in 2019, we can currently view it online at https://www.much.go.kr/online_exhi/hello/index.html.

Photos documenting South Korea’s democratic past were on display in the “Hello! Democracy” exhibition. The nation has transitioned from a time of the Cold War and division, when freedom and human rights were all but lost, to the present, when democracy and peace are the very cornerstone of life. The bravery of our people and the sacrifices they made this voyage possible. Together, we have struggled for our liberties and rights, for the distribution and diversion of power, and for free and open elections. Every one of us has helped to build a society that values human dignity above all else (MUCH, 2018). ‘Hello, Democracy’ consisted of 6 sections (Peace: Elevating Democracy, Power: Inhibiting True Democracy, Labor 1: Initiating Human Condition, Labor 2: Initiating Living Condition, Respect: Moving Forward, Square: Gathering Together) and showed Korean democracy history by comparing past & present, suppression & freedom, and power & peace.