E2024-G083

Witness to History: The Jeonil Building and Former Jeollanam-do Provincial Office

Narrative

After the democratic uprising began at Chonnam National University on the morning of May 18, protesters moved to the Former Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Building, located on Geumnam-ro Road. This area would become the center of the uprising’s events, which lasted for ten days. The provincial office was the destination of the taxi protest parade on May 20, during which soldiers fired tear gas on the drivers and beat them, and the drivers in response tried to used the cars are barricades, and also transported the injured to the hospital. On May 21, the army fired on a group of demonstrators who had gathered at the provincial office, causing many deaths and injuries. By the afternoon, the square in front of the provincial office became the battle ground between civilian militias and the army. It was also where civilian militias gathered to make a last stand on May 26. The following day, the office was overtaken. Notable among the deaths was Yun Sang-won (1950-1980), a student at Chonnam National University and leader of the civilian militia.

Across the street from the provincial office was the Jeonil Building, home to several newspaper and broadcasting companies. This was where a helicopter shot into the tenth floor, home to Jeonil Broadcasting and part of the Jeonnam Ilbo newspaper, using machine guns. Notably, an eyewitness account and testimony of the incident was given by the Catholic priest and activist Cho Pius (1938-2016), however President Chun and others denied the incident. Remnants of 245 bullet holes remain the building today, which has been remodeled and now houses an exhibition hall, among other facilities.

The Jeollanam-do Provincial Government Building later moved elsewhere in the city, and the former buildings were used as the National Asian Culture Center and Democracy and Peace Memorial Hall, while the square in front was renamed May 18 Democracy Square.

Story Map

• May 18 Legacy: Voices of Democracy and Remembrance
  • UNESCO Human Rights Documentary Heritage Archives
  • Chonnam National University: Where the Call for Democracy Began
  • Witness to History: The Jeonil Building and Former Jeollanam-do Provincial Office
  • Remembrance through Revitalization: Jeonil Building 245 and Democracy Square
  • Tales from the Outside: Foreign Witnesses’ Accounts of the May 18 Democratic Uprising
  • The Role of Catholic Leaders in the May 18 Democratic Uprising
  • The Role of the YWCA in the May 18 Democratic Uprising
  • Representing the People in the May 18 Democratic Uprising: The Citizen Emergency Headquarters