GWANGJU – Somber tension engulfed the May 18th National Cemetery on Wednesday as political big wigs of rivaling parties, high-rank government officials and others gathered to commemorate the anniversary of the pro-democracy uprising in 1980.

Under the scorching sun, the attendees paid respect, sang the national anthem and sat through commemorative speeches to honor victims of the uprising that played a pivotal role in introducing liberal democracy to the nation.

On May 18, 1980, more than 200,000 citizens of Gwangju rose up against the military junta led by Gen. Chun Doo-hwan, who took power a year after the assassination of then-President Park Chung-hee, father of President Park Geun-hye. Hundreds of civilians died as Chun ordered the most violent crackdown in the nation’s modern history.

The 20-minute ceremony closed with the much-anticipated song “March of Our Beloved,” belted out by about 30 members of a choir on stage.

Most participants sang the song, some waving the flag of South Korea, except for several, including Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, whose lips remained sealed throughout the voluntary sing-along.

The ceremony marked the ongoing political division some three decades since the nation introduced democracy, with the rivaling groups fighting until the last minute over whether to have the controversial song reintroduced as a ceremonial tune.

“We have to take the May 18 democratic uprising as an opportunity to unite the country,” said Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-an in his speech on behalf of President Park, who has not attended the annual ceremony since her first visit in 2013. 

Former presidents have also often sent prime ministers in their place. Her conservative predecessor Lee Myung-bak had come to the event in his first year in office.

It was also Lee who decided the song should be sang by a choir in 2009. Prior to that, the signature song had involved all participants singing along since 1997.

The conservative governments have said the song should be left outside of official protocol, citing persistent controversy over the song that the conservatives claim is pro-North. The liberals have contended that the song is a symbol of democracy and the government’s move is aimed to undermine the democratic legacy.

Among those that sang along was Saenuri Party’s embattled floor leader Chung Jin-suk, whose nomination as interim chairman was thwarted by intensified factional feud within the party the day before.

Tension at the site reached a high when Park Sung-chun, the head of Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affair, the organizer of the event, was blocked from entering the event. The former army general had angered Gwangju residents with his decision not to change current rules on the song.

“It is very unfortunate,” Park told reporters after being blocked by the angered activists and victims’ family. “Whether to designate the song as an official anthem and whether to mandate sing-along in public space is not a choice made by individuals. It need the people’s consensus over the song,” he said.

The attending opposition bigwigs, including former Minjoo Party leader Rep. Moon Jae-in, the Minjoo Party’s interim chief Kim Chong-in and People’s Party chairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, spared no expenses at criticizing the government’s stance.

“I don’t understand the government’s rationale on banning the sing-along. … We will name the song as an official anthem (if we take power),” said Moon. “We believe today’s ceremony was organized sloppily by the government,” he said.

Rep. Park Jie-won, floor leader of the People’s Party said the party will continue to push the legislation to have the song sung by all participants at the ceremony and to work with the Minjoo Party to have the minister of patriots and veterans affairs resign.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)