On August 15, marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, an image of the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) is displayed on the electronic billboard behind the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, where the event titled “80th Liberation Anniversary: Building the Future with Sovereignty of the People” is being held.
SEOUL, Aug. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea commemorated the 80th anniversary of its liberation from Japanese colonial rule with a large-scale government-led ceremony on Thursday, underscoring themes of national unity, historical remembrance, and cultural pride.
Held at 10 a.m. at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in central Seoul, the event gathered some 2,500 attendees, including President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung, descendants of independence activists, diplomats, civic leaders, students, and members of the public. The theme for this year’s celebration was “Light Found Together, Illuminating Korea.”
Various historical versions of the Taegeukgi related to the independence movement are displayed on Nodeul Island in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
Eighty national flags adorned the stage, symbolizing the eight decades since liberation in 1945. In a poignant gesture, 80 descendants of independence heroes participated in the opening performance titled “Arirang Rhapsody.”
The ceremony also featured a joint display of modern and historical versions of the Korean flag, and actor Cho Jin-woong, known for his role as a national envoy during the repatriation of General Hong Beom-do’s remains in 2021, led the national oath.
President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung wave the Taegeukgi and sing the Liberation Day song along with attendees at the 80th Liberation Day ceremony held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on the 15th.
President Lee awarded commendations to five descendants of independence fighters, including a relative of the late Lee Eun-sook. A total of 311 individuals were recognized this year for their contributions to Korea’s liberation.
Lee Jong-chan, head of the Liberation Association, called the anniversary “a new beginning for shaping Korea’s future” and urged a “20-year grand reform toward becoming a great cultural nation.”
This year’s Liberation Day March, held in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, features a procession of around 2,000 participants—including members of the Liberation Association, descendants of independence patriots, veterans’ groups, citizens, and students—marching a 1.6-kilometer route from the Palgakjeong Pavilion in Tapgol Park to Gwanghwamun Square.
The commemorative performance featured traditional and modern musical interpretations reflecting Korea’s journey through liberation (“Gwangya”), industrialization (“Four Seasons”), democratization (“Evergreen”), and the present day (“Climbing That Place”), combining Korean classical music, opera, media art, and choral performances.
The ceremony culminated with a manse (hurrah) shout led jointly by independence fighters and their descendants. It included a recreated audio of Kim Gu’s original 1946 manse shout, generated through artificial intelligence, and pledges from descendants of patriot Ahn Jung-geun and General Ji Cheong-cheon.
President Lee Jae-myung delivers a celebratory address at the 80th Liberation Day ceremony held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on the 15th.
To mark the anniversary, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety launched a nationwide campaign encouraging citizens to display the Korean flag and draped large flags across nine major buildings around Gwanghwamun and the Sejong Center.
Image credit: Presidential Office Press Photographers’ Corps, Yonhap / photonews@koreabizwire.com
