National Liberation Day of Korea

National Liberation Day of Korea
Korean people celebrating their liberation in 1945
Official name	조국해방의 날 (Chogukhaebangŭi Nal) (North Korea) 광복절 (Gwangbokjeol) (South Korea)
Observed by	North Korea South Korea Koreans
Type	National
Significance	Commemorates Victory over Japan Day, when Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule and the establishment of South Korea
Celebrations	Civilian and military parades, political rallies
Date	15 August
Frequency	Annual

The National Liberation Day of Korea is a public holiday celebrated annually on 15 August in both South and North Korea. It commemorates the day when Korea was liberated from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule by the Allies in 1945. The day also coincides with the anniversary of the founding of South Korea in 1945.^[1]

In South Korea, it is known as Gwangbokjeol (Korean: 광복절; lit. The Day the Light Returned).^[2] In North Korea it is known as Chogukhaebangŭi Nal (조국해방의 날; lit. Liberation of the Fatherland Day).^[3]

The name Gwangbokjeol uses the term “restoration” (복; bog) instead of “independence” (독립; dongnip) to emphasize that Korea had been independent for years prior to Japanese rule.^[4]

The day marks the annual anniversary of the announcement that Japan would unconditionally surrender on August 15, 1945. All forces of the Imperial Japanese Army were ordered to surrender to the Allies,^[2] with the last Japanese occupation troops leaving southern Korea by the end of September 1945. The USA and USSR agreed on a 3-year trusteeship during which they would oversee the establishment of two different national governments for Korea.

Korea came for the first time in history under control by a foreign power in 1910, followed by a 35 year long occupation period, which oversaw the attempt at eradicating the Korean culture and language. On the 1st of September a provisional government was established by the Committee for the Preparation of the National government (조선건국준비위원회). The negotiations on August 15th between Yeo Un-hyeong and Endou Ryuusaku, the representative of the Governor-General agreed on the release of all prisoners and the transfer of administrative and judicial control to Korean authorities in turn for the guarantee of safe passage of Japanese citizens.^[5]

American troops landed in mid-September and occupied the Southern part of the country, declaring the provisional government as invalid.

August 15 is celebrated by many countries as Victory Over Japan Day, the day Japan's emperor announced the country's surrender. The United States, however, commemorates this day in September when the Japanese formally signed a declaration of surrender.^[4]

Liberation Day is the only political holiday that is celebrated in both North Korea and South Korea.^[6][7][8]

In North Korea, it is typical to schedule weddings on the holiday.^[9][10]

The holiday is often celebrated with a military parade on Kim Il-sung Square on jubilee years (ex: 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th anniversaries) with the attendance of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of North Korea. The first parade was held in 1949 at Pyongyang Station. It was held again in 1953, and then conducted every year until 1960, when it took a pause until the early 2000s.^[11]

On 5 August 2015, the North Korean government decided to change its timezone back to UTC+08:30 effective 15 August 2015, and said the official name would be Pyongyang Time (PYT).^[12][13] The government of North Korea made this decision as a break from 'imperialism'; the time zone change went into effect on the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Korea.^[14] North Korea reversed the change in May 2018.^[15]

In South Korea, many activities and events take place on the holiday, including an official ceremony attended by the President of the Republic either at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan or at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.^[2][16] During the celebration, the flags of different countries around the world hung in the middle of the road around the Jamsil area of Seoul between the Olympic Stadium and Olympic Park are taken down and replaced with South Korean national flags.^[4]

All buildings and homes are encouraged to display the South Korean national flag Taegukgi. Not only are most public museums and places open free of charge to the descendants of independence activists on the holiday, but they can also travel on both public transport and intercity trains for free.^[2]

The official "Gwangbokjeol song" (광복절 노래) is sung at official ceremonies. The song's lyrics were written by Jeong Inbo (정인보) and the melody by Yoon Yongha (윤용하).^[2] The lyrics speak of "to touch the earth again" and how "the sea dances", how "this day is the remaining trace of 40 years of passionate blood solidified" and to "guard this forever and ever".^[17]

The government traditionally issues special pardons on Gwangbokjeol.^[18][19]

At 10:23 a.m., 15 August 1974, Mun Se-gwang, a Zainichi Korean and North Korean sympathizer, attempted to assassinate President Park Chung Hee at the National Theater of Korea in Seoul during a Gwangbokjeol ceremony; Park was unharmed but his wife Yuk Young-soo, the First Lady of South Korea, was killed.^[20][21]

• Independence Hall of Korea
• Seodaemun Prison

• South Korea Independence Day Archived 29 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine at Holidays around the World

• Media related to National Liberation Day of Korea at Wikimedia Commons
• Works related to Proclamation of Korean Independence at Wikisource
• The Independence Hall of Korea
• Gwangbokjeol Song at the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (in Korean)