International human rights internships open

An organization set up to keep Gwangju’s historic democracy movement alive is seeking international interns for next year.

The May 18 Memorial Foundation aims to promote and protect democracy, human rights and peace in the name of the uprising on that day in 1980.

The foundation’s activities include holding memorial events, establishing scholarships, fostering research and awarding the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights.

The annual International Internship Program aims to develop democracy and human rights by recruiting two interns from overseas who have worked for similar organizations in their home countries.

Those selected will learn about the history and development of human rights and democracy in South Korea while networking with Korean civil society groups. They will assist with the organization’s International Cooperation Project and will be assigned research during the 10-month internship from March 2012.

Applications are open from now until Jan. 6. For more information go to eng.518.org or e-mail 518interns@gmail.com.