"Extreme Politics and Movements of Hope"... May 18 Memorial Foundation to Hold International Forum

October 29-31: Critical Reflection on Political Landscapes at Home and Abroad

An international academic forum examining the value of democracy amid extreme conflict and historical distortion will be held in Gwangju.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation announced on the 21st that it will hold the 2026 May 18 International Forum for three days, from October 29 to 31, at Daedong Hall of the May 18 Memorial Culture Center.

Held under the main theme “The Politics of Death, the Democracy of Life: Extreme Politics and Movements of Hope,” the forum aims to critically examine political landscapes at home and abroad and seek alternatives grounded in solidarity and hope.

The main event, the academic sessions, will begin at 10 a.m. on October 30. In the keynote address, Professor Oka Mari of Waseda University will present perspectives on peace and human rights connecting Gwangju and Palestine.

Subsequent sessions will comparatively analyze cases of democratic crises in different countries. In Session 1, researcher Lin Zhengyu of Taiwan’s Academia Sinica and Professor Kim Namgyu of Korea University will discuss political changes and patterns of democratic backsliding in South Korea and Taiwan. In Session 2, Professor Lim Wuntaek of Keimyung University and Professor Ha Sangeung of Sogang University will examine democratic crises in Europe and the United States. Session 3 will bring together emerging researchers Kim Taeyeon (Jeju National University), Choi Juwon (Seoul National University), Jung Goeun (Sungkyunkwan University), and Kim Yubin (Chonnam National University) to discuss practical alternatives proposed by young researchers for overcoming extreme politics.

There will also be a range of side events open to the public. At 2 p.m. on October 29, the opening day, a screening of the documentary film “Namtaeryeong,” about the December 3 emergency martial law declaration, will be followed by a conversation with the director. On October 31, the final day of the forum, participants will take part in a field trip to major historic sites of the May 18 Democratization Movement.

A representative of the May 18 Memorial Foundation said, “Through this forum, we hope to critically examine extreme political phenomena today, including the distortion and denial of history.”

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