From the Editor

June 2023, Issue 256

Published: June 1, 2023

Cover Photo

Gwangju Together Day

Photo courtesy of Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

Publisher Dr. Shin Gyonggu

Editor-in-Chief Dr. David E. Shaffer

Managing Editor William Urbanski

Chief Copy Editor Isaiah Winters

Layout Editors Kim Sukang

Photographer Kim Hillel Yunkyoung

Online Editor Kim Sukang

The Gwangju News is the first English monthly magazine for the general public in Korea, first published in 2001. Each monthly issue covers local and regional issues, with a focus on the roles and activities of the international residents and local English-speaking communities.

Copyright ©2023 by the Gwangju International Center. All rights reserved. No part of this publication covered by this copyright may be reproduced in any form or by any means – graphic, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise – without the written consent of the publisher.

The Gwangju News is published by the Gwangju International Center: Jungang-ro 196-beon-gil 5 (Geumnam-ro 3-ga), Dong-gu, Gwangju 61475, South Korea Tel: (+82)-62-226-2733 Fax: (+82)-62-226-2731

Website: www.gwangjunewsgic.com

Email: gwangjunews@gic.or.kr gwangjunews gwangju_news

Registration No. 광주광역시 라. 00145 (ISSN 2093-5315)

Registration Date: February 22, 2010

Printed by Jieum 지음 (+82)-62-672-2566

For volunteering and article submission inquiries, please contact the editor at gwangjunews@gic.or.kr

Welcometo June, and to the June issue of the Gwangju News! It was 22 years ago this month that the first issue of the Gwangju News was published – a mere two folded sheets of paper with text rather than today’s photo cover. June welcomes us with frolicking weather, such as that depicted in this issue’s cover photo. That photograph was taken on May 20 at Jungwoe Park – Gwangju Citizens’ Day.

This year marked the 58th Gwangju Citizens’ Day; however, the event has not always been held in May. The date change carries copious significance. Originally observed on November 1, Gwangju Citizens’ Day was moved to May 20 in 2010 in recognition of the May 18 (1980) Gwangju Uprising. It was on that day, the third of the ten days of turmoil, that the citizenry of Gwangju rose up in protest to the martial law forces’ brutal and fatal response to civil disobedience, forcing the military to retreat to the outskirts of the city. What better way to mark this event than with a celebration recognizing the will and determination of the Gwangju people – the Spirit of May!

This year’s Citizens’ Day was a triple event, as it was coupled with Gwangju Together Day and Gwangju International Students’ Day. Read our cover feature by two young writers, each focusing on one of the two latter events.

Here might be a good opportunity to reiterate that the Gwangju News is a not-for-profit publication within a not-for-profit organization –the Gwangju International Center. The staff and contributing writers are not professionals in the fields of publication or journalism but rather volunteers from other walks of life. I would like to commend them on the product they contribute to producing each month – this professional-quality magazine!

In several ways, the Gwangju News can be thought of as a mentoring publication, as we give support to our many young writers – such as our cover feature article writers – who may be students or writing for a publication for their first time. And quite a few of them are writing in their second or third language – English!

I would like to here also introduce our new layout editor Kim Sukang, who is not only new to the Gwangju News staff but also to the Gwangju International Center. She is also new to publishing, journalism, and digital design work. But as you can witness in these pages, she is already doing a magnificant job. We heartily welcome Kim Sukang!

Conserve water, stay Covid vigilant, and enjoy the Gwangju News!

David E. Shaffer

Editor-in-Chief

Special thanks to Gwangju City and all of our sponsors.

Gwangju News