May 18th Democracy Square & National Cemetery

LERK · CC BY-SA 4.0

Where the 1980 Gwangju Uprising happened, and where those who died in it are buried.

In May 1980 students and citizens of Gwangju took to the streets against military rule; the crackdown lasted ten days and left hundreds dead. The square in front of the old provincial government building — now the Asia Culture Center — was the centre of those days, and the fountain in the middle was where protesters gathered. A few kilometres away, the May 18th National Cemetery is quiet, each headstone carrying a photograph. The archive of the uprising was inscribed in UNESCO's Memory of the World in 2011.

Visitor information

When is the best time to visit May 18th Democracy Square & National Cemetery?

Year-round; memorial events in May

How long do you need at May 18th Democracy Square & National Cemetery?

2–3 hours

What are the opening hours of May 18th Democracy Square & National Cemetery?

09:00–18:00

Did you know

The Gwangju Democratization Movement ran from 18 to 27 May 1980.
Its archive joined UNESCO's Memory of the World register in 2011.
The former provincial hall is now part of the Asia Culture Center.
The May 18th National Cemetery is in Unjeong, about 10 km from the centre.

Travel tips

Visit the Asia Culture Center next door, one of Korea's largest cultural complexes.
In May the memorial ceremonies give the place a very different atmosphere.
English-speaking volunteer guides are available at the memorial hall.

Source: https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/국립아시아문화전당

Updated: 2026-08-04