On the 12th, the May 18th Research Institute at Chonnam National University invited CEO Min as a speaker for a special lecture commemorating the 46th anniversary of the May 18th Democratization Movement in Gwangju.
CEO Min delivered a special lecture under the theme “Imagining K-Culture and K-Pop in Gwangju.”
During the talk, CEO Min stated, “May 18th is history that actually happened before politics,” adding, “It is wrong to constantly interpret it politically or bring up other narratives.”
She continued, “Jeolla-do is a place with a history of struggle, such as the democratization movement. The spirit of resistance, struggle, and democratization movements didn’t happen for no reason. They emerge because people have firm beliefs and clear convictions, and in fact, many people possess that in their DNA. If we interpret this from a socio-phenomenological perspective, it’s not without reason. I’m not saying this just to flatter the people of Jeolla-do. Change only happens when there is struggle. Even if it doesn’t end in success, resistance has great significance in delivering a message to the world.”
CEO Min also noted, “I believe culture always accompanies sociology and philosophy. Culture cannot exist in isolation.”
Furthermore, CEO Min shared her thoughts on visiting the May 18th National Cemetery. She mentioned being touched by a quote where reporters said they would put down their pens because they failed to stop the distortion of reality, remarking, “It seems to show that even as times evolve, conflicts and clashes between systems still exist.”
Meanwhile, CEO Min Hee-jin is continuing her legal battle with HYBE, the parent company of ADOR. She was once known as “NewJeans Mom” for her role in developing NewJeans at ADOR.
