President Moon and First Lady Attend Liberation Day Ceremony... 'Virtual Manse Cheers' for COVID-19 Prevention

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] President Moon Jae-in attended the 76th Liberation Day celebration ceremony on the 15th with First Lady Kim Jung-sook.

The ceremony was held at 10 a.m. at 'Culture Station Seoul 284' (formerly Seoul Station) in Jung-gu, Seoul. This location is historically significant as it was the site where over 10,000 people, the largest number during the March 1st Movement in 1919, participated in the independence movement, and in September of the same year, independence activist Kang Woo-kyu carried out a bomb attack to assassinate the 3rd Governor-General of Joseon.

The theme of the ceremony was 'Preserve the Path,' symbolizing the commitment to further elevate the status of the Republic of Korea, which has advanced from the foundation of independence achieved by the will of ancestors through economic development and democratization to the position of a developed country, and to continue to 'preserve the path' as a leading nation.

Considering the enhanced social distancing measures due to COVID-19, the attendance was limited to about 20 people, including five high-ranking officials, political party representatives, and religious figures. Additionally, the usual on-site celebratory performances were omitted, and key programs such as the three cheers for independence were replaced with video presentations.

Following President Moon’s Liberation Day address, the three cheers for independence were led by representatives from Korea’s culture, science and technology, and sports sectors at historical sites where the fierce independence movements of ancestors took place. The President and the public then joined in the cheers.

In the 'culture' sector, child actor Kim Jun led the cheers at 'Baehwa Girls' High School' in Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the 1920 independence movement occurred. Representing the 'science and technology' sector, researcher Kim Ui-geun from the Korea Aerospace Research Institute, responsible for the first next-generation medium satellite system, led the cheers at the 'Independence Hall' in Cheonan. Representing the 'sports' sector, athlete Jeon Woong-tae, who won Korea’s first medal in the modern pentathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, led the cheers at 'Tapgol Park' in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The ceremony was conducted with strict COVID-19 prevention measures, including minimizing the number of attendees, thorough disinfection before and after the event, temperature and health checks for all entrants, preparation of isolation spaces, and establishment of a system for transporting suspected patients.