Gwangju City News

From the Gwangju Metropolitan City website (http://gwangju.go.kr)

In the Name of the Son, a movie released to commemorate the 41st anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement, is gaining popularity, ranking first in pre-booked ticket sales among Korean films released around the same time, Gwangju City Hall announced. According to the Korean Film Council’s movie ticket tally, Director Lee Jung-gook’s latest film topped the list of Korean films in number of pre-booked ticket sales on May 11 and was released in 392 movie theaters nationwide the following day.

Gwangju City Hall, along with the Gwangju Information and Culture Industry Promotion Agency, supported the production of this feature film last year in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of May 18.

The movie follows the story of a man determined to take revenge on those with no remorse in order to keep the promise he made to his son, telling the tale of the perpetrator’s remorse and apology, and the restoration of the victims’ honor.

In the Name… revolves around events of May 1980 in Gwangju, whose facts still remain unclear and which is still a topic of heated discussions. The movie drew great attention even before its release also due to the large number of nationally famous actors involved in it, including Ahn Sung-ki, Yoon Yoo-sun, and Park Geunhyung.

Prior to the movie’s release, on April 30, special Gwangju previews of the film were held at the Gwangju Terminal’s CGV and the Gwangju Theater. They were attended by the leading actors Ahn Sung-ki and Yoon Yoo-sun, as well as the director, Lee Jung-kook, who also met with Gwangju citizens.

Director Lee Jung-kook, who made a name for himself through his films The Letter and Blue, debuted in 1990 with the movie Song of Resurrection, which is based on the events of May 18, and also produced the short film Remember and the feature film Reflection on the same topic.

Director Lee said, “Most movies about May 18 deal with the topic from the victims’ point of view. Therefore, in In the Name of the Son, I began with the questions ‘What were the perpetrators who received those orders like?’ and ‘Why did those in charge at the time not reflect on themselves?’” He also added, “What I intended as the core message of the movie is that a life without self-reflection is not worth living.”

Kim Joon-young, head of the Gwangju City Culture, Tourism, and Sports Department, said, “I hope that May 18 will become a milestone of democracy, human rights, and peace while sympathizing with the Gwangju spirit of sharing and solidarity and of historical value through this nationally released film.”

▲ Gwangju Mayor Lee Yong Sup distributing Korean rice balls to Gwangju citizens at the U-Square Gwangju Bus Terminal.

On May 13, Gwangju City Hall held a “Convey Your Heart with Gwangju Jumeokbap”-themed Korean rice ball-sharing and promotional event for commemoration of the 41st anniversary of May 18 in the plaza in front of the U-Square Bus Terminal.

City Hall, along with the Gwangju Jumeokbap Sales Business, the Gwangju Institute of Design Promotion, and the Korea Foodservice Industry Association Gwangju Branch gave out Gwangju jumeokbap (주먹밥, meal-size balls of rice) to around 2,000 Gwangju residents, while at the same time promoting the recently released product and the Gwangju Jumeokbap Sales Business.

The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of sharing by giving out Gwangju jumeokbap, through which the citizens could convey a heartful message of support to their family, friends, and coworkers who have suffered under stress caused by COVID-19 over such a long period of time.

Gwangju jumeokbap rice balls are a food symbolizing one difficult period in May of 1980, when Gwangju citizens stood together expressing love and hope by sharing these rice balls. Jumeokbap, therefore, became a representative food of Gwangju, which anyone can enjoy in various flavors and shapes, wherever they are.

Eight types of Gwangju jumeokbap have recently been launched for sale online, and on May 18 at 2:00 p.m. through a Naver Shopping live broadcast, they launched nationwide sales in a special discount event.

Mayor Lee Yong Sup stated, “We appreciate the cooperation of our citizens, who are sensibly coping even in the prolonged, difficult situations caused by COVID-19.” He also added, “We will foster Gwangju jumeokbap rice balls, a symbol of the Gwangju spirit, as a representative local food, and by spreading them throughout the nation, we will convey the spirit of involvement, sharing, and the Gwangju community’s spirit of solidarity.”

On May 22 Gwangju City Hall held the 2021 Volunteer Fair with online and offline events at City Hall’s Citizens’ Forest Plaza. This fair has been held annually since 2009 to promote the social value and importance of volunteering in the region. This year, the focus was on climate change. Under the theme of “Volunteer Power!” various activities including making natural fragrances using coffee grounds to cope with climate change, reducing the carbon footprint, and an online volunteer challenge poster contest were held together.

In consideration of social distancing, an online video conference system was designed to allow for more than 100 online volunteers and 100 onsite participants and hosts to understand and experience volunteer activities together at the Citizens’ Forest Square. For the Volunteer Practice Challenge Poster Contest, 100 school students (elementary, middle, and high school) expressed through pictures the actions they need to take in order to respond to the climate crisis.

Sixteen awards were given for outstanding works in the online drawing contest along with recognition for two hours of volunteer work for all those participating. The submitted works will be used as promotional materials for public purposes to promote volunteer work in the future.