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History

2021
- May 18 Arnon Nampa from Thailand is awardee of the 22th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
  Watchdoc Documentary Maker from Indonesia is awardee of the 22th Special Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

2020
- May 18 40th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising
- October 27 Bedjo Untung from Indonesia is awardee of the 21th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

2019
- May 18 Joanna K. Carino from Philippines is awardee of the 20th Main Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
  Dialita Choir from Indonesia is awardee of the 20th Special Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

2018
- May 18 Nandana Manatunga from Sri Lanka is awardee of the 19th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

2017
- May 18 Jatupat Boonpattararaksa from Thailand is awardee of the 18th Main Gwangju Prize for Human Rights / Serge Bambara from Burkina Faso is awardee of the 18th Special Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

2016
- May 18 Co-winners Nguyen Dan Que from Vietnam and BERSIH 2.0(Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil) from Malaysia are awarded 17th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights

2015
- May 18 Arnon Nampa from Thailand is awardee of the 16th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
  Watchdoc Documentary Maker from Indonesia is awardee of the 16th Gwangju Special Prize for Human Rights

2014
- May 18 Susil Pyakurel from Nepal is awardee of the 15th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
- August 30 The May 18 Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Event

2013
- May 18 Arnon Nampa from Thailand is awardee of the 14th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights
  Watchdoc Documentary Maker from Indonesia is awardee of the 14th Gwangju Special Prize for Human Rights
- January 30 Aung San Suuk Kyi visited Gwangju

2012
- May 18 Susil Pyakurel from Nepal is awardee of the 13th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
- May 18 East Asia Democracy Human Right Peach Network kicked off

2011
- May 25 May 18 Archives finally decided as UNESCO Memory of the World
  Binayak Sen from India is awardee of the 12th Gwangju Main Prize for Human Rights
  Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families for Peace from Palestine is awardee of the 12th Gwangju Special Prize for Human Rights
- July 27 May 18 Archives registered (certified) as UNESCO Memory of the World

2010
- May New Scholars of 5·18 enter Sungkonghoe University 6th Batch of International Intern for Human Rights
- May 18 30th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.
  Susil Pyakurel from Nepal is awardee of the 11th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
- August 09~27 2010 Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School
- October 13~14 1st SDMA meeting after launching.

2009
- May New Scholars of 5·18 enter Sungkonghoe University.
  5th Batch of International Intern for Human Rights
- May 18 Min Ko Naing(Student Leader, Burma) is awardee' of the 10th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
  Solidarity for Democratization Movements in Asia (SDMA), Gwangju International Peace Forum began a foundational process of establishing a regional network for action among democracy advocates, Human Rights defenders and social movement activists.
- August 31~September18 2009; 6th Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School

2008
- May New Batch of 5·18 Scholars enter Sungkonghoe.
  4th Batch of International Interns for Human Rights.
- May 18 Muneer Malik awardee of the 9th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

2007
- February 5·18 Scholar graduates at Sungkonghoe.
  3rd Batch of International Interns for Human Rights.
  First international member of staff joins the Foundation.
  Launched Grant for Democracy and Human Rights Projects in Asia.
- May 18 Co-winners Irom Sharmila and Lenin Raghuvanshi are awarded 8th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
- September 4th Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School.

2006
- May 15~18 Gwangju International Peace Camp.
- May 18 Co-winners Angkhana Neelaphaijit and Malalai Joya are awarded the 7th Gwangju Prize
  2nd Batch of International Interns for Human Rights.
- September 3rd Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School.
  Outstanding Folk School Participants awarded Scholarship for Sungkonghoe's MAINS program.

2005
- January 1st Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School.
- May 14~18 Gwangju International Peace Camp.
- May 18 Wardah Hafidz of Indonesia awarded the 6th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.
  1st Batch of International Interns for Human Rights recruited.
- November 2nd Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School.

2004
- March 27 Law to indemnify the Gwangju Democratic Movement-related people revised; 5th compensation conducted.
- May 10~18 Gwangju International Peace Camp.
- May 18 5th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights awarded to Aung San Suu Kyi: Secretary General of Burma NLD.
- August 12 The May 18 Academy established (hosted in conjunction with the Gwangju Citizen Organizations Association).
- August 30 10th Anniversary of the May 18 Foundation.

2003
- May 6 Foundation Newsletter 'Rice Ball' established.
- May 18 4th Gwangju Prize for Human Rights awarded to Dandeniya G. Jayanthi: Secretary General of Sri-Lanka Disappearance Association.

2002
- May 22nd Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- May 18 3rd Gwangju Prize for Human Rights awarded to the National Democratic Bereaved Family Association.
- July 27 Enforcement of the Law to honor the Gwangju Democratic People of Merit; The May 18 Cemetery designated status as a national cemetery.

2001
- May 21st Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- May 18 2nd Gwangju Prize for Human Rights awarded to Basil Fernando, Executive Director of Asian Human Rights Commission.
- June 1~3 International Symposium in Bonn, Germany.
- June 6 Foundation office relocated to the May 18 Memorial Culture Hall.
- September 28 Formation of the 4th Board of Directors (with honored professor, Chonnam University, Lee, Gangwoo as the 5th Chairman of the Board).
- December 21 Congress passes a new law to honor the Gwangju Democratic 'People of Merit'.

2000
- January 12 Law to indemnify the Gwangju Democratization Movement-related people revised, '4th compensation' conducted.
  20th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- May 18 20th Commemoration Ceremony of the May 18 Democratic Uprising held by the Government (including a visit by President, Kim, Dae-jung).
- November 3 1st Gwangju Prize for Human Rights awarded to Xanana Gusmao: Chairman, National Council of Timorese Resistance.

1999
- February 19 Expansion and revision of nationwide associations as recommended by the Foundation (rearranged to include 15 legal directors).
- May 19th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.

1998
- March 15 Enactment of regulations to support the May 18 Foundation's basic property as being Gwangju City property.
- May 18th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.

1997
- April 17 Life sentence issued for Jeon, Doo-hwan, with a 17 year imprisonment penalty for Noh, Tae-Woo.
- April 29 Government establishes May 18 as a National Commemoration Day in memory of the Uprising.
- May 17th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- May 16 Ceremony for the completion of the new May 18th Cemetery.
- May 18 1st Official Ceremony for The May 18 Democratic Uprising held by the Government.
- December 17 Revision of the Law to indemnify those people involved with the Gwangju Democratization Movement, '3rd compensation' conducted.

1996
- January 23 Indictment of 8 persons-in-charge of the May 18 massacre with an accusation of rebellion, including Noh, Tae-woo and Jeon, Doo-hwan.
- May 16th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- October 31 Formation of The May 18 Foundation 2nd Board of Directors with lawyer Lee Ki-Hong as Chairman of the Board.

1995
- May 18 15th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- May Nationwide signature campaign launched to introduce a special law in order to punish the persons-in-charge of The May 18 massacre.
- December 21 Special Law for The May 18 Democratization Movement enacted.

1994
- May 18 Accusation and Indictment Campaign for the person in charge of The May 18 massacre.
- May 5 14th Memorial Commemorative Committee for the May 18 Democratic Uprising organizes and performs memorial events.
- August 30 The May 18 Foundation established, promoters meeting with the first Chairman of the Board, Father Cho Chul-Hyun.

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