Gwangju International Center

GIC Talk is a weekly English talk program developed for intercultural communication and understanding among local Korean citizens with international residents in Gwangju. The program started in September 2003 with only a few participants. Nowadays, dozens of Koreans and international residents take part in the Talk Program, with focus concentrating on a different topic each week. These include world cultures, social issues, history, lifestyles, political issues, speakers' experience and other areas of interest.

Community Space for Koreans and International Residents

This community space for Koreans and international residents take place on weekends. Most presenters are international residents in Gwangju, but other influential people, such as international ambassadors and representatives of NGOs or NPOs, are also invited to give a talk. Each lecture is followed by a Q&A time where people can ask the presenter questions and exchange their ideas freely. The community space allows those who attend opportunities to be more globally aware.

Program Operation

Despite not having a program budget, GIC Talk is possible thanks to local and international residents sharing their time, knowledge, and experiences. Our appreciation also goes to GIC volunteers who host, document and review the event.

[May 4]

No GIC Talk

[May 11]

▶Title: Be the Change Project: the connection between our values and our feelings

▶Speaker: Dana Han

In the third workshop we will explore how our perception about so-called "negative", "bad" emotions might be transformed into understanding them and using for our benefit. Not only this understanding can help us be more gentle with ourselves, but also might increase our ability to be more compassionate towards others. Let's play with these ideas together! Hope to see you there ;-)

[May 18]

▶Title: How did the May Uprising Become the Initiator of Korean Democracy?

▶Speaker: SHIN Gyonggu, GIC Director & CNU Professor Emeritus

The impact of the May 18 Democratization Movement in 1980 is immeasurable to the democratization of South Korea. However, we may wonder why other movements with far much more sacrifices did not have as much impact as the May 18 Movement. The uniqueness of the May 18 Movement was possible by:

- Legendary figures like YUN Sang-won

- Dedicated civic leaders

- High morality with no shop-lifting nor break-in into banks in the absence of security forces

- Support by the general public

- Regional police forces not collaborating with the regime

- Movement leadership clever enough not to promote radical ideology

The May 18 Movement would not have been successful in changing the nation but for the nation-wide support of the May 18 Movement and the grass-root movement toward democracy with the support of the international organizations. The impact of the May 18 Movement was not limited in the political side. It also triggered the change of Korean culture, resulting in the K Wave.

[May 25]

▶Title: Safety and Human Rights meet Humanities

▶Speaker: JEONG Jongje, Vice-Mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City

JEONG Jong-je, vice mayor of Gwangju Metropolitan City, will hold a special lecture to celebrate the 25th Gwangju International Community Day on May 26. With the theme of "Safety and Human Rights meet Humanities" and the novel "E-mail from Paris," we will see how our safety and human rights are related to humanities as well as the past, present and future of Gwangju, a democratic and peaceful city. Please join us in healing time with humanities.