Restored house of late rights lawyer Hong Nam-sun opens in Gwangju as 5·18 exhibit space
In short
Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City reopened the restored house of the late lawyer Hong Nam-sun in Gwangju's Dong District on 21 October. The house is a designated 5·18 historic site and will run as an exhibition and education space on the 5·18 Democratization Movement. It is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 18:00.
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Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City finished restoring the house of the late lawyer Hong Nam-sun and opened it on 21 October, Yonhap and Newsis reported. The opening ceremony took place at the house in Gungdong, Dong District. A Newsis photo caption says attendees, including Hwang Gi-yeon, named as the vice mayor for administration and culture of Gwangju Special City, cut a ribbon at the ceremony. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The city bought the house and began restoration work in 2025, according to Yonhap and Seoul Shinmun. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun said the work involved careful verification of relics, restoration and the creation of an exhibition hall. Yonhap said four rooms and the veranda were recreated as original, while Newsis and Seoul Shinmun said the rooms and veranda were restored close to the original. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun said the memorial space holds sculptures and records that show Hong's life, and Yonhap said materials introducing his life and achievements are on display. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Newsis and Seoul Shinmun said the house was a place where democracy activists, students and civic campaigners met to discuss the political situation under military rule in the 1970s and 1980s. Seoul Shinmun added that they also issued statements there. According to both, during the 1980 5·18 Democratization Movement it served as a gathering place to publicise the suffering of citizens and discuss responses. They said it is designated 5·18 historic site No. 29, and Yonhap said it was designated a 5·18 historic site in 2017. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Seoul Shinmun gave Hong's years as 1912 to 2006 and said he devoted his life to defending prisoners of conscience and to human rights work. Newsis and Seoul Shinmun said he took part in the citizens' settlement committee during 5·18 and led the 'march of death' against the martial law troops' bloody crackdown. Seoul Shinmun said he was tried in a military court on a charge of leading an insurrection. All three outlets said he received a life sentence. Yonhap said he served 1 year and 7 months and later led the 5·18 detainees' association, working on uncovering the truth and restoring honour. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The city plans to run the house as an exhibition and education space to commemorate and carry forward the history and spirit of the 5·18 Democratization Movement. Yonhap and Newsis said visitors can see it Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 18:00. Choi Jin-a, head of the city's democratic spirit succession division, said the opening helps revive Gwangju's democratic history and the 5·18 spirit. Choi also said the house is expected to be used as a place to feel and learn from Hong's footsteps. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The city says the house will serve to commemorate and pass on the history and spirit of the 5·18 Democratization Movement. The documents give no figures on cost or expected visitors.
Key facts
- Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City finished restoring the house of the late lawyer Hong Nam-sun and opened it on 21 October. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The house is in Gungdong, Dong District, and is designated as 5·18 historic site No. 29. [ 1 , 3 ]
- The city bought the house and began restoration work in 2025. [ 2 , 3 ]
- It will be run as an exhibition and education space commemorating the 5·18 Democratization Movement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Visitors can see the permanent exhibition Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 18:00. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hong was sentenced to life imprisonment over his role in the 5·18 'march of death'. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The restored house of the late lawyer Hong Nam-sun was opened on 21 October by Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The city plans to run the house as an exhibition and education space for the history and spirit of the 5·18 Democratization Movement. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The house is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 18:00. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The city bought the house and started restoration work in 2025. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- How closely the rooms and veranda match the original house. Yonhap says four rooms and the veranda were recreated as original, while Newsis and Seoul Shinmun say they were restored close to the original.
- The cost of the restoration and the number of expected visitors. None of the documents gives these figures.