21 Sets of Remains Recovered from Presumed 5·18 Mass Burial Site; "Little Connection Found"

Report on Recovery Results in Hyoryeong-dong Area
Possible Unclaimed Graves

A significant number of human remains have been unearthed and recovered from the area around Hyoryeong-dong in Buk-gu, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do, which had been mentioned as a presumed mass burial site of victims from the 5·18 Democratization Movement. However, analysis indicates that there is little direct connection to the 5·18 incident.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Lee Seungwon, Deputy Director of the Korea Prehistoric Culture Research Institute, explained the excavation survey of the presumed 5.18 mass burial site at the May Memory Storage of the 5.18 Memorial Foundation in Seo-gu, Gwangju, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News

On the afternoon of July 21, the 5·18 Memorial Foundation and the Korea Prehistoric Culture Research Institute held a presentation on the results of the excavation survey at the 'May Memory Archive' of the 5·18 Memorial Culture Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju, and released these findings.

Based on testimony from local residents who reported witnessing a soldier transporting a blood-stained burlap sack on a military truck near the Hyoryeong-dong public cemetery in 1980, the foundation conducted excavation and recovery work for presumed victims from May 11 until the end of June over an area of about 1,300 square meters in San 143, Hyoryeong-dong, Buk-gu.

As a result of the survey, a total of 21 sets of remains were recovered, including 15 largely intact bodies and 6 individual fragments. However, a comprehensive review of the burial patterns and relics found alongside the remains has led to the initial conclusion that there is little connection to the 5·18 incident.

Specifically, 14 out of the 15 complete remains had been buried bound with white plastic cord and were recovered in a state where only bones remained, indicating that they had previously been exhumed and reburied. As such, it was suggested the remains may belong to unclaimed graves recovered during previous development projects in Gwangju, the relocation of the Ilgok-dong crematorium, or foundation construction for Gwangju Science High School and Polytechnic College.

Another set of remains, recovered from a separate grave, was found dressed in a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, with trousers folded and placed near the head. Analysis of the clothing's brand and production period did not reveal any direct link to the 5·18 incident. The other bone fragments are presumed to have been damaged and scattered either by natural erosion or during past exhumation processes.

However, the foundation has not completely ruled out the possibility that the remains could belong to victims. Therefore, DNA testing has been requested for five recoverable samples. The remains subjected to analysis include: an adult female (146–154 cm), a 17–18-year-old male (160–180 cm), a 35–40-year-old female (147–151 cm), and a 40–50-year-old male. The results are expected in three to four months.

The foundation plans to compare the test results to the genetic data of families of 5·18 missing persons. Although the officially recognized number of missing persons from 5·18 stands at 73, it is estimated that the actual number is much higher.

Yoon Mokhyeon, Chairperson of the 5·18 Memorial Foundation, stated, "Even if the DNA comparison results show there is no correlation, the genetic information obtained will serve as basic data for uncovering the truth and identifying the missing persons in the future," adding, "We will continue to investigate missing persons based on objective evidence."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.