More than 350 Attendees Including Descendants of Independence Activists
K-Pan Choir Sings "Song of the Independence Army" and Sohn Keechung AI Video
Mayor Oh Holds "Taegukgi Signing Ceremony" with Descendants
On August 14, Seoul Mayor Oh Sehoon will host a ceremony at Seoul City Hall to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, together with descendants of overseas independence activists. Prior to the event, Mayor Oh also held a Taegukgi signing ceremony with these descendants, honoring the spirit of the "Danji Alliance" led by Ahn Jung-geun.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the "80th Anniversary of Liberation Day Celebration" will take place at 2 p.m. at Seoul City Hall, attended by Mayor Oh, members of the Liberation Association, representatives from veterans' organizations, 19 descendants of overseas independence activists invited by the city, and approximately 350 participants in total.
Taegukgi Hill installed at the main entrance of Seoul Library in Seoul Plaza to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day. Photo by Yonhap News
To commemorate the significance of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day and to further honor independence activists and their descendants, the city invited 19 descendants of 11 independence activists currently residing overseas to Seoul. On the previous day, these descendants paid their respects at the National Cemetery and visited the Dosan Ahn Changho Memorial Hall and the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, honoring the patriots who gave their lives for the nation and reflecting on the history of the anti-Japanese independence movement.
The event will feature a theatrical performance depicting the longing for independence during the Japanese colonial period, as well as pre-event performances by the civic Korean traditional music choir K-Pan, including "Song of the Independence Army" and "Liberation Army Second Detachment Song." An AI-generated video titled "Run again, Sohn Keechung Runs in Seoul," featuring Sohn Keechung running through Seoul with the Taegukgi, will also be screened. Another AI video, "80 Years of Liberation: The Return of Forgotten Stars," will tell the stories of the families of Lee Donghwa, Yoo Kisuk, and General Choi Jindong. In addition, pianist Do Youngmoo, grandson of independence activists Kim Seongsuk and Du Gunhye and a former professor at the Juilliard School, will give a special performance of "Arirang" and "Dohwado" on piano.
Prior to the event, Mayor Oh hosted a luncheon with 11 descendants of overseas independence activists. In a ceremony inspired by the "Danji Alliance," in which Ahn Jung-geun and 11 comrades pledged their commitment before his historic act, the descendants signed the Taegukgi. Mayor Oh will present this signed Taegukgi to the descendants during the celebration, after which it will be displayed at the Provisional Government Memorial Hall in Chongqing.
Mayor Oh stated, "We will continue to honor the noble spirit of independence activists and further elevate our respect for them and their descendants," emphasizing his commitment to strengthening support for these individuals in the future.
Since 2020, Seoul has been the first local government in the country to provide scholarships to great-grandchildren and younger descendants of independence activists. Mayor Oh has also directed efforts to identify independence activists from Seoul who dedicated themselves to the independence movement but have not received proper recognition. He has personally led institutional reforms, expanding medical expense support-which was previously limited to the activists themselves, their primary heirs, and their spouses-to include the spouses of deceased primary heirs as well. This measure aims to ensure that the honor accorded to the sacrifices of independence activists extends fully to their surviving family members.
Mayor Oh remarked, "It is thanks to the sacrifices and dedication of countless patriots that the Republic of Korea has been able to rise as a cultural and economic powerhouse, just as they fervently hoped. Let us carry forward the cry for freedom and hope, protected with blood and tears 80 years ago, as a promise for the future-so that we may pass on an even greater legacy to the next generation."
Meanwhile, at Seoul Plaza, a large mosaic artwork composed of 4,000 photos of independence activists and others, inspired by the Danji Alliance blood-written Taegukgi, is currently on display on the Dream Board. In front of it, "Taegukgi Hill," decorated with 300 pinwheels, has also been created.
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