National Cemetery, Gwangju is a major attraction in the city of Gwangju in South Korea. It is an outstanding architecture which tells a tale of sacrifice and valor. Many Koreans pay a visit to the site in remembrance of the brave citizens who were killed on the 18th of May. A visit to National Cemetery, Gwangju should be included in ones itinerary.
Gwangju is the 5th largest city in South Korea. Since the year 1967, it is one of the major industrial regions of the country. It is renowned for its automobile industry.
The city of Gwangju shot into fame in 1929. During the period of Japanese occupation, a confrontation between Korean and Japanese students turned into a regional demonstration in this city. This revolt ended in one of the major nationwide uprisings against Japanese rule.
Gwangju once again came into the spotlight in May, 1980. The city spearheaded civil demonstrations against the newly installed military government of Chun Doo-hwan. The demonstrations were suppressed by military forces. The elite units of the Special Operations Command were also put into operation. The infamous suppression was characterized by bestial brutality. The military forces fired automatic weapons into crowds of unarmed demonstrators.
The death toll of the massacre has been inconsistent. While the government stated that 207 of civilian were killed along with 987 injured estimates prepared by dissident groups claimed that one to two thousand had died.
Gwangju is sometimes called the shrine of Korean democracy and valor. This is because after this incident there was a nation wide uprising against the government. This infamous incident is today known as the Gwangju Massacre.
After civilian rule was reinstated, the revolt received due recognition as an effort to restore democracy from military rule. The government made a formal apology for the incident. As a mark of respect a national cemetery known as the National Cemetery was established for the victims.
Today to the world, the Cemetery is a towering example of sacrifice for the cause of democracy. In its structure the killed demonstrators remind mankind that the best kind of governance in the world can only be provided by democracy.
Detailed online information on National Cemetery, Gwangju can be obtained in travel.mapsofworld
Mapxl.com is a business division of Compare Infobase Limited
Compare Infobase Limited C-62, Community Center, Janakpuri, New Delhi-58 (India) Tel: +91-11- 25542045, 41588013, 41588014 Hotline Nos. : +91-11- 41574999, 41574888, 41574890 You may contact between 08.00 to 20.00 hours IST Fax: + 91-11-25547264 Mobile: +91(0) 9871399025 contactus@mapsofworld.com
