Leaders of the ruling and opposition parties attend the 5.18 Memorial Ceremony. May 18, 2023  

Table of Contents

1. The Corpse in Andong Dam and Conspiracy Theories: The Shadow of Human Psychology

2. 10th Anniversary of the Sewol Ferry Disaster: Memory Transforms from a Right to a Power

3. Institutionalization of 5.18 Memory: Is State-Defined Truth True?

“May 18th is the root of democracy.”

Every May, presidents and politicians repeat this phrase when they visit Gwangju. Wreath-laying, moments of silence, public statements, and social media posts—all elements appear without fail. However, as commemorations and declarations are repeated, we are prompted to ask more fundamental questions.

Do we remember the truth, or do we believe in the remembered truth?

The May 18th Uprising originally occurred amidst extreme conflict between citizen resistance and the military's violent suppression under martial law. That truth has reached us today, overcoming walls of concealment and manipulation over a long period. Subsequently, through a series of processes including the Truth Commission, the enactment of special laws, the designation of a national day of remembrance, and reflection in the curriculum, May 18th has become a 'just memory' officially recognized by the state.

However, the sociology of memory states: “The moment memory is institutionalized, it becomes power.”

Currently, the list of May 18th merit recipients is legally non-public. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs refuses disclosure, citing "personal information protection," and the selection criteria are not specifically publicized. This has led to questions from some political circles and civic groups regarding the legitimacy and fairness of merit recipient selection. With controversies arising over the authenticity of merit recipient status and allegations of fraudulent registration, institutionalized memory is even fueling social conflict.

This is not merely a 'list controversy.' The structure itself, where some are remembered and others are excluded based on state-defined criteria, is problematic. There are bereaved families not invited to the official memorial ceremony, victims who have not been recognized, and witnesses excluded for expressing political views.

They are often referred to as 'forgotten victims.' According to National Archives records and bereaved families' testimonies, there are discrepancies between the official death toll and the actual number of victims, and some bereaved families' organizations have been excluded from official events for raising issues with specific incidents.

Under current law, there are three major special laws related to May 18th: the 'Act on the Compensation of Persons Involved in the May 18 Democratization Movement,' enacted in 1990; the 'Act on the Honorable Treatment of May 18 Democratization Movement Meritorious Persons,' enacted in 2002; and the 'Act on the Investigation of the Truth of the May 18 Democratization Movement,' enacted in 2018.

While these laws aim for truth investigation, victim compensation, and honorable treatment of merit recipients, they simultaneously serve to institutionally solidify the 'state-approved truth.' Areas that were once open to academic verification and discussion are now subject to criminal penalties for 'dissemination of false information' under certain provisions.

For example, the theory of North Korean involvement in the May 18th incident, officially concluded as 'baseless' by the Truth Commission established in 2020, is still repeatedly mentioned by some politicians and communities. The government considers this 'historical distortion' and seeks to punish it, but some argue, "Isn't this just forcing the state-defined truth?"

Furthermore, truths that remain unrevealed still exist. The ultimate responsibility for the martial law troops' opening fire order has yet to be clearly identified, and many individuals who cooperated with the new military regime—especially those in administrative, military, and intelligence roles at the time—have not faced adequate legal accountability. Reports from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs in 2023 and statements from the bereaved families' association in May 2024 confirm that questions regarding the accuracy of the death toll and allegations of omissions are still being raised.

Despite this, politicians visit Gwangju every May 18th. They shed tears in front of cameras and speak of 'inheriting the spirit.' But what are they truly inheriting—the spirit of Gwangju, or political legitimacy?

This phenomenon can be explained by the concept of 'consumption of death.'

When death is shared as a public trauma, it elicits powerful emotional mobilization. The media reprocesses this into content, and politicians utilize it as a means to secure legitimacy. YouTube algorithms promote commemorative content to the top, and portals fill major news with 'Gwangju.' Advertisements follow, and donations continue.

Political death always presupposes emotion. Emotion leads to votes, and sadness becomes a frame. However, the moment that emotion is meticulously designed, reproduced, and amplified—we consume 'designed truth' rather than 'truth.'

Memory is mourning and responsibility. However, current memory is often transformed into a shield of legitimacy and a tool for political summons. Criticism that deviates from this frame is stigmatized as 'unwise remarks,' and dissenting voices are forced into silence.

To consume death. It is not merely to mourn someone's death. It is to profit from that death, strengthen legitimacy, and silence opponents. Commemorations are repeated, and events and symbols become increasingly sophisticated, but in that repetition, truth is erased, and memory becomes a weapon.

We ask again.

Whose deaths do we remember?

And whose deaths do we consume?

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