For Thee and All the World to See: May 18 Gwangju and the Visual Tenacities of South Korean Democracy
| When | Thursday, September 17, 2026 from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | Hatcher Gallery Event Space Hatcher Library North, First Floor, Room 100 View building informationView floor plan |
| Event type | Conference/Symposium |
| Series | Democracy Week |
Explore the enduring legacy of the May 18, 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement and the role of visual media in shaping South Korea’s democratic consciousness. Organized in conjunction with an exhibition of 90 curated images from the Gwangju 5·18 Archives on campus, this event bridges historical analysis with living memory. Survivors and eyewitnesses will share their reflections alongside scholars to examine how images and personal testimony break through censorship and serve as vital tools for historical justice—connecting Gwangju’s struggle to global conversations on human rights.
Speakers will include Thierry Bonzon ( Université Gustave Eiffel), Youngju Ryu (University of Michigan), Sohl Lee (Stony Brook University), Hayana Kim (Ohio State University), David Dolinger (Former Peace Corps Volunteer), Na Kyung-taek (Former Jeon-nam Daily Photojournalist).
This event is part of the University of Michigan’s Democracy Week and is sponsored by the May 18 Archives, Center for Democracy & Civic Empowerment, Department of Political Science, Center for Emerging Democracies, Donia Human Rights Center, and U-M Library (Asia Library).
If there is anything we can do to make this event accessible to you, please contact us. Please be aware that advance notice is necessary as some accommodations may require more time for the university to arrange.
Crop of a photo of Chonnam National University students marching in Gwangju, South Korea, shortly before the May 18 Democratization Movement, by journalist Na Kyung-taek in May 1980.
Library contact
Library events are free and open to the public, and we are committed to making them accessible to attendees. If you anticipate needing accommodations to participate, please notify the listed contact with as much notice as possible.