A ceremony was held in Gwangju on Wednesday morning to mark the 31st anniversary of the May 18th Pro-Democracy Movement.

The ceremony was attended by 25-hundred people, including Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and other government officials. Surviving participants of the uprising and relatives of those who were killed by the soldiers dispatched to quell the democratic movement were also in attendance.

Visitors laid flowers and burned incense at the memorial altar during the ceremony held at the May 18th national cemetery. The ceremony included cultural performances in remembrance of victims and was followed by various religious rituals to console their souls.

Other memorial events such as exhibitions and performances were held in other regions, including Seoul, Busan, Incheon and Daegu.