It is said that these days, quite a few bereaved families are opting for a "one-day funeral" instead of the traditional three-day service. When I first encountered this lonely change in social mores, I thought that we had entered an era where even the final duty of bidding farewell to one's own flesh and blood is measured by efficiency, buried under the logic of capital.

However, that hasty judgment soon turned into a heavy sense of shame. How sorrowful and miserable must it be for those who have lost a beloved family member to hold onto the coffin and be forced to say their goodbyes in just a single day? 

A Left-Wing Political Cartel That Hasn't Taken Off Its Mourning Clothes in Over 40 Years

A life on the edge, where one must wipe away tears and return to work for tomorrow's survival without even a moment to process grief. The one-day funeral is not a sign of cold-heartedness by the bereaved, but rather the most painful cross-section of the ruthless world we have created, where people must stifle even their deepest personal losses to survive.

Perhaps the tearful reality for ordinary citizens in 2026 is that even the pain of a personal universe collapsing must be shaken off within a day, or three at most, so that one can get back on the bus to work. Yet, right in the heart of this country stands a massive, never-ending funeral home that is perfectly out of sync with this desperate, breathless daily rhythm.

It is the May of Gwangju, which is already approaching its half-century mark.

Even the most piercing personal grief is buried in one's heart within three days as people march toward tomorrow, but the left-wing political cartel of this society has not taken off its mourning clothes for over 40 years. 

No, they have gone beyond wearing them themselves—they are now forcing the heavy hemp mourning garments onto growing teenagers, demanding they show the blind reverence of mourners.

Facing this artificial demand for mourning, which stifles the breath of youth simply because they did not physically embody the history of half a century ago, even a sigh feels heavy.

We must dryly examine the essence of mourning and healing. True recovery and the healing of wounds are only achieved when one possesses a solid inner core that remains unshaken, regardless of what jokes or disparaging remarks others may throw from the outside. 

If the sacrifice of Gwangju is truly great and a value that pierces through the zeitgeist, that value will naturally take root in history without the need for power to hold a whip and force it into the minds of children.

Do Not Force Old Mourning Clothes on Children

Conversely, what will happen if we continue to act as we do now—losing our temper over the lighthearted jokes of teenagers and forcing them to play the role of mourners? 

Regardless of how noble and significant that event was originally, for the future generation, 5·18 will remain nothing more than an exhausting and "tiresome obligation," an oppressive dogma they wish to avoid.

The true way to honor the dead is fulfilled only when the living move past the scars of the past toward a bright future. How long must Gwangju remain a giant funeral home trapped in the shackles of grief, and how long must we bow our heads only in the manner permitted by someone else?

It is an era where even the grief of losing a family member must be sealed away in a single day for the sake of survival. We must stop the act of forcing old mourning clothes of the past onto our children, branding them as sinners of history. 

A society that walks through forced mourning while stripped of the right to end its grief can never move even a single step toward the civilization of tomorrow. It is time to tear down those heavy altars built layer upon layer by hypocrites and return to the sunlit daily lives of the living.

Additionally, I have received the heartbreaking news that the young granddaughter of People Power Party Representative Jang Dong-hyeok has sadly passed away. Putting aside political differences, I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family suffering through immeasurable grief and pray for the peaceful rest of the deceased.

◆ Park Joo-hyun, Author

A composer, music director, columnist, and essayist. He actively expresses his opinions on political, current, and social issues on Facebook, garnering sympathy from many. He is the author of the essay collection, "Crossing the Stormy Sea."