May 18th National Cemetery
May 18th National Cemetery
4.5
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4.5
69 reviews
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olegkrylov
Ufa, Russia18,323 contributions
Aug 2023 • Friends
The May 18 National Cemetery was built in 1997 to give a dignified burial to those pro-democracy protesters who were gunned down during the military crackdown orchestrated by General Chung Do-hwan on that fateful day in 1980. The 40-metre-high memorial tower, a symbol of the resurrection, dominates this moving and unforgettable 14-hectare site. Among the various buildings there is a museum (photos, films, multimedia) and a memorial hall dedicated to the memory of the victims.
Written 2 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CanisHan
Seoul, South Korea26,898 contributions
Aug 2019 • Solo
C ( 19.08.02 )
This cemetery was historical place about May 18th Korean democracy. This area was quiet and solemn, and many victims buried. The May 18th democracy movement was big meanings in Korea history, and many people fought and was dead. Because of this movement, democracy of Korea could be more free. There was good place to pay our respects to soul of victims.
This cemetery was historical place about May 18th Korean democracy. This area was quiet and solemn, and many victims buried. The May 18th democracy movement was big meanings in Korea history, and many people fought and was dead. Because of this movement, democracy of Korea could be more free. There was good place to pay our respects to soul of victims.
Written 5 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pchu
Brisbane, Australia313 contributions
Aug 2018 • Couples
A well done facility. The English video is not to be missed. Not all exhibits are bilingual but there are enough English for foreign visitors to understand what had happened.
We spent may be 2 hours in the museum including watching the video. The outdoor ground is nicely done and worth a walk for half an hour. The national cemetery across the road looks very calm and quiet and well maintained, but we visited in a down pouring raining day so we didn't go there.
Bus 518 circles round the city before heading to the cemetery / museum, it takes almost an hour if you get on from U Square. Getting on the bus outside Gwangju train station will take a little less time on the bus.
When getting off from the cemetery park bus stop, the museum complex is on the same side of the road; across the road is the national cemetery. The bus heads back to the city is on the cemetery side. The bus stop doesn't display bus schedule but we found a schedule inside the photo exhibition building in the museum complex. (According to the museum map that building is a restaurant but turns out it's not, just a snack shop and photo exhibition)
The tragic end of innocent Gwangju citizens who fought for democracy makes my heart broken. There are so many similarities between the Gwangju massacre in 1980 and the June 4 massacre in Beijing in 1989.
The new democratic government in SK has been so brave to face the past injustice and held the then dictators accountable in less than 2 decades since innocent people killed or injuried by the gun firing army.
Next year is the 30th anniversary of the June 4 massacre, very unfortunate for the Chinese people China is still ruled by an authoritarian regime suppressing even the most basic human right.
We spent may be 2 hours in the museum including watching the video. The outdoor ground is nicely done and worth a walk for half an hour. The national cemetery across the road looks very calm and quiet and well maintained, but we visited in a down pouring raining day so we didn't go there.
Bus 518 circles round the city before heading to the cemetery / museum, it takes almost an hour if you get on from U Square. Getting on the bus outside Gwangju train station will take a little less time on the bus.
When getting off from the cemetery park bus stop, the museum complex is on the same side of the road; across the road is the national cemetery. The bus heads back to the city is on the cemetery side. The bus stop doesn't display bus schedule but we found a schedule inside the photo exhibition building in the museum complex. (According to the museum map that building is a restaurant but turns out it's not, just a snack shop and photo exhibition)
The tragic end of innocent Gwangju citizens who fought for democracy makes my heart broken. There are so many similarities between the Gwangju massacre in 1980 and the June 4 massacre in Beijing in 1989.
The new democratic government in SK has been so brave to face the past injustice and held the then dictators accountable in less than 2 decades since innocent people killed or injuried by the gun firing army.
Next year is the 30th anniversary of the June 4 massacre, very unfortunate for the Chinese people China is still ruled by an authoritarian regime suppressing even the most basic human right.
Written 28 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthews T
Launceston, Australia176 contributions
Jan 2013 • Business
The Gwangju massacre must never be forgotten and this very moving memorial will enrich your understanding of the Korean people, their culture and their history. Visit the 5/18 Memorial in respect of those who sacrificed their lives for democracy in Korea.
Written 19 February 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colleen B
Williamsburg, VA126 contributions
May 2012 • Business
We were there for the anniversary in May, it was a humbling experience where you could feel the spirit of those who fought for freedom. I definitely walked away with a greater appreciation of what happened and how it changed the lives of people in S Korea.
Written 27 July 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Henry G
Asker, Norway63 contributions
Aug 2019
A moving place to visit, a place for reflection. Very good visual presentation on video explaining very well and enlarged the impressions and the feelings I got from my visit
Written 26 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexander S
San Jose, Costa Rica107 contributions
Mar 2015 • Solo
When I entered the cemetery grounds, a gentleman came up to me and asked if I knew anything about this and wanted to know if I have seen the video in one of the pavilions. Hw guided me to the place to watch the 30 minute video which put the whole cemetery in perspective. He also filled me in on the importance of the area, gave me a map with details of each monument and where to find them and also a thick book of the events that happened during May 1980. At the time that I did visit there was a funeral for a gentleman that passed away a few days earlier. I was lucky enough to witness this as it was done in the korean traditional way, with lots of events. It was amazing to witness this in a place like this.
Without the guide, I would have not been able to experience the whole cemetery it was meant to be. I highly suggest entering through the main gate and take time to explore this gigantic area. It is extremely worth the time to learn about how a whole city came together to changed the nation.
Without the guide, I would have not been able to experience the whole cemetery it was meant to be. I highly suggest entering through the main gate and take time to explore this gigantic area. It is extremely worth the time to learn about how a whole city came together to changed the nation.
Written 28 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alexandra M
Busan, South Korea210 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
The bus leaves from the main bus station and takes about an hour.
To the right of the main memorial and cemetery area is a photo room and to the left is a museum which is very detailed in the history, giving an hour by hour record of the two main days.
To the right of the main memorial and cemetery area is a photo room and to the left is a museum which is very detailed in the history, giving an hour by hour record of the two main days.
Written 2 July 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Katherine K
Gwangju, South Korea16 contributions
Jul 2012
Before coming to Gwangju, I tried to understand the Democracy Movement, but the little information available in English was confusing. The National Cemetery had a great 30 minute (free!) documentary with so much information, pictures, and video. It was shocking to see pictures of tanks in the middle of downtown Gwangju, but very humbling. Very few people were visiting the same day, so the attendant answered our questions about the movement as best she could. Well worth a visit!
Written 24 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thelonious22
Seongnam4,382 contributions
Jul 2021
May 18 National Cemetery commemorates the lives lost during the Gwangju Uprising of 1980. Gwangju citizens took a stand against the military when college students demonstrating against the martial law government were fired upon, killed, and beaten by government troops. Along with the cemetery, the memorial tower stands in the middle of the worship square. The three-floor memorial hall contains an exhibition that has detailed information about the ten days of the uprising. Some of the raw footage of the military attacking its own citizens was not only appalling and was hard to believe it was only 40 years ago.
Written 27 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there, does the cemetery make any reference to the German journalist Jürgen Hinzpeter? If so, how? Many thanks in advance!
Written 3 May 2018
I didn't see anything about him, but I asked the cab driver who brought me there, and he knew about him from the movie.
Written 12 February 2019
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