Identification and conservation of gunshot marks from the 1980 South Korean pro-democracy movement

The Jeonnam Provincial Hall bears gunshot marks from the 1980 South Korean pro-democracy movement. Recent structural alterations inadvertently concealed these tangible memories. To restore the site’s commemorative value, this study applied a multidisciplinary approach combining visual analysis and archaeometry to detect the obscured conflict heritage. Following a shooting reenactment, 3D scanning established morphological criteria for gunshot impacts. Hidden gunshot marks were subsequently pinpointed using thermal infrared imaging and metal detection and verified via gamma-ray transmission imaging. Finally, embedded projectiles were excavated and identified via SEM-EDS and microscopic rifling analysis as 5.56 mm ammunition from an M16 rifle. This scientifically validated methodology demonstrates how non-destructive techniques can uncover hidden historical evidence, providing a dynamic framework for permanent conservation and socio-cultural re-evaluation of architectural heritage facing unpredictable preservation scenarios.