In Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary, 80 Taegeukgi Flags to Adorn the Stage
Citizen Representatives Including Director Lee Gukjong to Present Certificates of Appointment to the President
On August 15, marking the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, the Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony and the Presidential Inauguration Ceremony for President Lee Jaemyung will be held in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on August 13 that the 80th Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on August 15 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts under the theme "The Light We Found Together, Illuminating Korea." The theme signifies that each and every citizen is the true owner of the nation, both at the moment of liberation and in the Korea of today. The event will be attended by 2,500 people, including descendants of independence patriots, key national figures, members of the diplomatic corps in Korea, representatives from various sectors of society, citizens, and students.
In commemoration of the 80th anniversary, a total of 80 Taegeukgi flags will be displayed on the stage. The event will begin with all performers, including the orchestra and the Liberation 80th Anniversary Intergenerational Choir, filling the stage.
The ceremony will open with "Arirang Rhapsody," a modern reinterpretation of Arirang. During the opening performance, 80 descendants of independence patriots will take the stage to highlight the significance of the 80th anniversary. During the national ceremony, both the current Taegeukgi and the Taegeukgi used during the independence movement will be presented. The Pledge of Allegiance will be read by actor Cho Jinwoong, who accompanied the repatriation of General Hong Beomdo's remains to Korea as a special envoy in 2021.
The celebratory performance will feature a medley of songs representing Korea's 80-year history: "Gwangya (Liberation)," "SaeGye (Era of Industrialization)," "Sangnoksu (Era of Democratization)," and "Geugeot-e Ollara (Present-Day Korea)." These will be presented through a variety of formats including Korean traditional music, vocal music, media art, video, and a grand choir. The songs will be performed by Chae Suhyeon, Associate Principal of the National Gugak Center, the Brillante Children's Choir, baritone Ko Sunghyun, soprano Jeon Subin, and singer Jung Dongha, along with the Liberation 80th Anniversary Intergenerational Choir.
The traditional three cheers for independence (manse samchang) will be led by both independence activists from the past and their descendants today. Using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, the "manse samchang" shouted by Kim Gu during the first Liberation Day celebration in 1946 will be recreated. The event will also feature a pledge from Choi Sua, the great-great-granddaughter of the late patriot Ahn Junggeun, and Ji Younghwan, the great-grandson of General Ji Cheongcheon.
In celebration of Liberation Day, a total of 311 individuals have been selected as recipients of the Order of Merit for National Foundation. At the ceremony, awards will be presented to five descendants of independence patriots, including the descendants of the late Lee Eunsuk.
In the Evening: President Lee Jaemyung's "National Inauguration Ceremony"
At 8 p.m. on August 15, the "80 Years of Liberation: Building the Future with National Sovereignty" festival and President Lee Jaemyung's National Inauguration Ceremony will be held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul. The event will be attended by key national figures, members of the diplomatic corps, and representatives from various fields, including politics, society, economy, culture, and science and technology.
During the National Inauguration Ceremony, 80 citizen representatives specially selected to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation will present certificates of appointment. These representatives include: a couple who stood in front of armored vehicles during the impeachment protests; Lee Gukjong, director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital who raised awareness about the importance of trauma centers; director Heo Gayoung, who became the first Korean to win first place in the student category at the 78th Cannes Film Festival; Go player Lee Sedol, who famously competed against AlphaGo; and Kim Junyoung and Sagong Hyeran, the first couple in Korea to give birth to quintuplets through natural conception.
After receiving the certificates of appointment from the citizen representatives, the President is expected to deliver a message of gratitude, expressing appreciation to the citizens who presented the certificates and pledging to serve the people with even greater dedication. Following the message of gratitude, all performers and attending citizens will join together in singing "Into the New World," a song traditionally sung in the square to celebrate national sovereignty.
The event will conclude with a grand festival for all citizens to enjoy. The power of Korea as a cultural powerhouse will be showcased through a dance performance by "The Stories," a world-renowned street dance team and winner of the 2024 VIBE dance competition, set to a remix by leading Korean DJ "Aster," as well as a taekwondo performance by "Taekwon Hallyu," Korea's premier taekwondo demonstration team.
The evening will continue with performances by singers Sandeul and Jung Eunji, and IZNA members Bang Jimin, Choi Jungeun, and Jung Sebi. IZNA will perform "Golden," a track from "K-Pop Demon Hunters," which has recently sparked a global sensation. The festival will come to a close with a performance by singer Lee Seunghwan.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has also prepared for citizens who applied to participate online but were not selected in the lottery, as well as those who wish to attend but did not receive a separate invitation, to enjoy the festivities in the vicinity of Gwanghwamun Square.
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