The government will not require all attendees to join in the singing of a controversial protest song symbolizing a pro-democracy uprising in 1980, during this year's official ceremony marking the historic event, the war veterans' ministry said Monday.

On Wednesday, South Korea is set to commemorate the May 18 democracy movement in which citizens of Gwangju, 371 kilometers south of Seoul, rose up against the then-military rule of former general-turned-President Chun Doo-hwan in 1980.

The revolt was brought to an end by a bloody government-led crackdown, which left hundreds of people dead and missing.

In 1997, the government officially designated the day as a national anniversary, requiring the uprising's signature song, "March for the Beloved," to be sung by all the participants of the commemoration event.

Since the conservative administration of former President Lee Myung-bak in 2009, however, the song has been performed by a choir, leaving participants to choose whether to sing along or not.

 In the latest decision on the issue, the government once again adhered to the current practice, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said in a statement.

We will respect participants' 'free will' in regards to joining in the choir's singing of the song and try to minimize any controversy that may arise," the ministry noted.

The militant but soulful song calls for a dedicated fight "for a new day," starting with the phrase, "Our blazing oath to march forward without even love, fame or name."

The controversy around the song has been mirroring the wider public debate over the May 18 protest movement, which has been touted as instrumental in bringing about a pro-democracy victory in ending authoritarian rule among the liberal elements of society, while it is looked upon in a negative light among some conservatives as an armed uprising against the government. (Yonhap)