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Gwangju Office of Education Brings 'May Spirit Performance' to Schools
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Gwangju Office of Education Brings 'May Spirit Performance' to Schools

From Dong-A Ilbo · (31m ago) Korean Positive tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is bringing a 5·18 Democracy Movement-themed cultural and arts performance to middle and high schools.
  • The program aims to help students understand the values of democracy, human rights, and peace through artistic expression.
  • Performances, starting at Gwangju High School, will feature a creative oratorio and interactive elements like Q&A sessions and singing.
  • This initiative seeks to provide experiential 5·18 education within school settings.

The Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education is actively working to ensure the legacy of the 5·18 Democracy Movement is not just a historical event but a living lesson for the younger generation. Through its '5·18 Cultural and Arts Performance Visiting Schools' program, the office is bringing the profound meaning of this pivotal moment in South Korean history directly into classrooms.

This initiative, which began at Gwangju High School, is designed to immerse students in the values of democracy, human rights, and peace. By presenting the historical context of the 5·18 Uprising through art and music, the program aims for a deeper, more intuitive understanding than traditional textbook learning can provide. The chosen format, a creative oratorio titled 'Light! Light! Gwangju Light!', performed by the On Chamber Orchestra, promises a multi-faceted narrative told from various perspectives, including those of young people and citizens.

We prepared this so that students can more vividly grasp the 5·18 Democratic Movement through stories and music.

— Ko In-jaDirector of Policy at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, explaining the program's educational goals.

What makes this program particularly engaging is its interactive nature. It's not merely a passive viewing experience. The performances include narrative explanations and quizzes, encouraging active student participation. The finale, where performers and students unite to sing 'March for the Beloved,' a song deeply associated with the Gwangju Uprising, creates a powerful sense of shared memory and solidarity.

From the perspective of Dong-A Ilbo and the Gwangju community, this educational outreach is crucial. It ensures that the sacrifices made during the 5·18 movement are remembered and understood, fostering a civic consciousness among students. This approach moves beyond rote memorization, offering an emotional and artistic connection to the past, reinforcing the democratic values that are foundational to South Korean society. It’s a vital effort to cultivate future citizens who appreciate and uphold the principles fought for in Gwangju.

We will actively support experiential 5·18 education in schools.

— Ko In-jaDirector of Policy at the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, emphasizing commitment to practical learning.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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