South Korean political leaders attended the 46th [1] anniversary of the May 18 Democratization Movement in Gwangju on Monday, sparking fierce political disputes.

The event served as a proxy battleground for the upcoming local elections on June 16 [2]. With the Seoul mayoral race in particular acting as a high-stakes prize, both parties used the solemn occasion to mobilize supporters and frame their opponents as unfit for office.

Among the attendees were Democratic Party figures including Jung Chung-rae, Han Byung-do, and Woo Won-shik. Jung, serving as the Democratic Party's central election committee chairman, used the platform to call for a judgment of those who defend rebellion. "Judge the forces that advocate for rebellion... we must reclaim the spirits of Gwangju," Jung said.

Representatives from the ruling party and other political factions responded by accusing the opposition of exploitation. Jang Dong-hyuk, a Democratic Party official, said the May 18 movement is merely a tool for power expansion for the Democratic Party.

Other leaders focused on legislative failures to further their electoral goals. Han Byung-do, the floor leader for the People Power Party, highlighted the failure to include the spirit of May 18 in the preamble of the constitution. Han said the People Power Party bears responsibility for this failure and promised a swift push to restart the process.

While the ceremony is intended to honor the victims of the 1980 uprising, the presence of rival leaders transformed the venue into a campaign stage. The tension reflects a broader trend of utilizing historic national traumas to secure a regional and psychological advantage before the polls open next month.

“"Judge the forces that advocate for rebellion... we must reclaim the spirits of Gwangju,"”

The transformation of the May 18 memorial into a political arena underscores the intense polarization surrounding the June 16 local elections. By framing the Seoul mayoral race through the lens of historical legitimacy and constitutional duty, parties are attempting to capture the moral high ground to sway undecided voters in key urban districts.