Curatorial expansion for the preservation of history: contemporary Korean cinema and the May 18 Gwangju Minjung Uprising

In this thesis, I investigate the social and political impact of Korean films on cultural identity, focusing on the core tenets of minjung ideology, particularly in light of the absence of official historical records. From the Japanese occupation to the impeachment of Park Geun Hye, my exploration of the convergence of historical evidence and Korean film culture centers on contemporary responses to the recreation and representation of collective memories and historical trauma, as well as the ways in which those responses enable the recovery of lost documentation. My ultimate argument is that contemporary Korean cinema has strategically employed personal narratives, thereby combining fact and fiction, in film production, and that this synthesis of historical trauma enhances public involvement in and raises viewers’ awareness of the long-forgotten national history. Through the prism of the Gwangju Uprising, I examine the cultural values of contemporary Korean cinema as a replacement for unrecorded historical documents rooted in mobility, ethical resonance, and intergenerational connection. This thesis frames the May 18-themed cinema as a dynamic, affective, and immersive site of memory work that bridges generational gaps and addresses ethical loneliness in South Korean society, thereby enhancing social discourse in public spaces. My methodological approach incorporates a personal-researcher perspective that navigates the tension between insider and outsider positions in relation to the city of Gwangju. By employing ethnographic research methods, including field visits, case studies, and semi-structured interviews, I explore how popular Korean cinema resonates with contemporary audiences and how it activates collective memory more effectively than traditional museum structures or media art practices in Gwangju. Ultimately, this research aims to redefine the role of the May 18 cinema as an active social agent in raising historical consciousness and shaping collective memory across generations.