Kim Woo-young's Gwanggyo Column I Met My Youth of the 1980s at Suwon Museum's Special Exhibition 'That Year, We Were'

I received a phone call from my high school senior Lee Yong-chang, a director of the Hwaseong Research Society and photographer.

"What are you doing today? Lee Dong-geun, the team leader at Suwon Museum, said he wants you to come see the photo exhibition with him."

Lee Yong-chang is my high school senior. He worked for a long time on photography at Suwon City Hall. He has been retired for about ten-odd years.

I like his photographs. They don't pretend to be so-called "art." He captures scenes as they are without any fancy tricks. No matter how long you look at them, they never become tiring. (I like them even more because I can use them in my own articles and columns)

That day I had so much to write that I hesitated to make time. Nevertheless, I rushed to finish my writing (some I put off) and headed to Suwon Museum.

There were so many people already there that there were not enough seats. Many members of the Hwaseong Research Society were also visible. Among them were directors Lee Yong-chang, Han Jung-gyu, and Yun Ui-young, who participated in this photo exhibition.

The opening ceremony began with skillful hosting by Lee Dong-geun, the Curatorial Team Leader.

This team leader is a junior scholar I admire. I also have a connection with his father, Lee Sung-ryong, who practiced theater and served as the director of the Gyeonggi Province Branch of the Korean Theater Association.

This team leader has achieved notable results by researching the history of the March 1st Movement in the Suwon area and the footsteps of independence activists.

In particular, he worked hard to make the exploits of female gisaeng independence activist Kim Hyang-hwa and others widely known to the world and recognized as independent contributors.

The opening ceremony was attended by Suwon Mayor Lee Jae-jun, National Assemblyman Kim Jun-hyuk, City Council Speaker Lee Jae-sik, city and provincial council members, citizens who provided photographs and their families, demonstrating deep interest in this photo exhibition.

National Assemblyman Kim Jun-hyuk shared stories about playing at the construction site of Gyeongsu Industrial Road (National Route 1) and participating in protest marches in Suwon during the democratization movement in 1987, gaining resonance.

Entering the exhibition hall, a large panoramic photograph of the front of Suwon Station in the early 1980s unfolds. I can see the wedding hall where I held my wedding ceremony on April 19, 1981, a small cinema, a cabaret, a bowling alley, and a fountain. There is also the old subway station stairs and a clock tower. The meeting place at Suwon Station was always the clock tower, just like the Central Theater at Paldal Gate.

Among the many photographs that awakened memories, the one that held my gaze the longest was a black and white photograph. It was a scene capturing students and citizens gathered in a circle at Suwon Station plaza during the democratization movement (June Struggle) in June 1987. I was one of them.

When the Chun Doo-hwan regime was nearing its end, the people took to the streets, shouting "abolish the Constitution-protecting system" and "overthrow dictatorship." The people's anger reached its peak due to the Chun Doo-hwan regime's indirect presidential system and torture-related deaths.

Unable to hold on, the previous regime conceded. On June 29, 1987, Roh Tae-woo, the Democratic Justice Party representative, announced the June 29 Declaration, stating he would accept demands for democratization, including direct presidential election and constitutional amendment.

Another scene that held my gaze for a long time was Paldal Gate Market in February 1987. Before long, the buildings will be demolished and the fortress walls will be restored. Buildings scheduled for demolition are now empty.

As I slowly looked around, a woman who appeared to be about my age stood in front of a photograph while a woman who seemed to be her daughter repeatedly took pictures with her phone. It was a photograph of a man and woman posing in front of Hwahongmun. When I asked, the woman in the photograph said it was herself. The man was her younger brother. About 40 years have passed between then and now.

At the old Suwon photo exhibition 'Suwon in the 1980s, That Year, We Were,' one can see at a glance the affectionate scenery of Suwon in the 1980s and vivid records of people who lived through that era.

This photo exhibition, running at the Planning Exhibition Hall on the first floor of the museum from March 26 to August 30, consists of three sub-themes: ▲That Year, Suwon's Scenery ▲That Year, Suwon's People ▲Full-Color Records of Suwon's People.

Team Leader Lee Dong-geun said, "The exhibition covers a wide range from everyday spaces such as changed streets, alleys, traditional markets, and schools to scenes capturing major historical moments of the time, including the Hwahong Culture Festival, the 1986 Asian Games, and the 1988 Olympics," and gave particular significance to the fact that "citizens themselves provided photographs from their albums and participated as the subjects of the record, completing the exhibition."

I did not have time that day to look carefully. I should revisit when I have time. I need to recall my youth.