September 2025
On Aug. 15, Korea celebrated the 80th anniversary of its liberation. A wide range of events were held to rekindle the joy of that historic day 80 years ago and to envision the unity and future of the Republic of Korea.
Writer. Kim Da Un
National Liberation Day of Korea on Aug. 15 marks the nation’s independence from Japanese rule. Commemorative events on Aug. 14 and 15 honor this day and unite the people.
On the evening of Aug. 14 at 8 p.m., the festival on the eve of Liberation Day, titled “We Are the Light,” was held at Heungnyemun Square of Gyeongbokgung Palace.
The stage featured performances by K-pop group Tomorrow X Together (TXT), fromis_9 and H1-KEY, singer Insooni, Seodo Band and dance crew BUMSUP. National art organizations also took part, including the National Dance Company of Korea, the National Chorus of Korea, the Seoul Performing Arts Company, the Historical Children’s Choir and Harmonize, presenting a rich variety of performances.
On Aug. 15, a national festival and the Presidential Oath of the People were held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul to commemorate the 80th Liberation Day, reaffirming that the people are the true owners of this nation.
The event consisted of three parts. Part 1 featured a performance by the special project group TDYA and singer Lee Eun-mi. Part 2 included a video retracing Korea’s history and another presenting citizens’ hopes for the president. Part 3 unfolded as a festive celebration for all, with performances by renowned DJ Aster, street dance team The Stories, taekwondo demonstration team Take One Wave, singer Sandeul, Jeong Eun-ji, IZNA’s Bang Jeemin, Choi Jungeun and Jeong Saebi, followed by Lee Seung-hwan, who brought the festival to a close.
President Lee Jae Myung, who participated in the ceremony, declared to the people: “As our proud 80 years of modern history have proven, the true source of Korea’s strength has always been the people. A ‘government of the sovereign people’ will always place the people, the wellspring of our national power, at the very heart of state philosophy and vision.”
© Yonhap News.
© Office of the President.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Liberation, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is presenting the special exhibition “Our Shared Journey with the Taegeukgi.” The exhibition offers a meaningful opportunity to revisit the moments in which the Taegeukgi, Korea’s national flag since the late 19th century, has stood alongside the Korean people.
Throughout history, Koreans have raised the Taegeukgi in times of joy and sorrow, struggle and triumph. Thus, for the Korean people, the flag has become more than a national emblem—it serves as an emotional medium that unites hearts and preserves shared memories across history.
The exhibition is organized into three parts, showcasing around 200 historically significant Taegeukgi flags and related materials, including “The Taegeukgi at the Provisional Assembly” and “Gwangjeho Taegeukgi.” Visitors will be able to view treasured Taegeukgi collections not only from the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History but also from institutions such as the Guimet Museum in Paris, the National Palace Museum of Korea and the Independence Hall of Korea, as well as from private collections. The exhibition runs until Nov. 16, with free admission.
Conveniently located in the heart of Seoul’s cultural district, the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History is surrounded by iconic landmarks, including Gwanghwamun Square, Gyeongbokgung Palace and Cheong Wa Dae (Blue House), making it an essential stop for visitors.
A visit to this special exhibition, combined with a day exploring the surrounding area, offers an enriching experience that blends Korea’s tradition and modernity.
The “High-Level Dialogue on Cultural and Creative Industries” (HLD-CCI), hosted by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, wrapped up successfully in Gyeongju. The HLD-CCI, themed “CCIs: New Horizons for Prosperity,” made history as the first time cultural industries took center stage as a major agenda item in APEC discussions.
The HLD-CCI explored the future of cultural industries through three sessions aligned with this year’s APEC priorities: “Connect,” “Innovate” and “Prosper.” The first session, “Connect: CCIs as a New Catalyst for Economic Cooperation within APEC,” reaffirmed that cultural industries are a core growth driver for APEC and discussed regional growth opportunities through this sector. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism introduced Korea’s cultural industry development policy direction and emphasized the expanding impact of cultural content on related industries.
The second session, “Innovate: Developments in CCIs Driven by Digital and AI Innovation,” explored the impact of digital technology and AI across all stages of cultural industries. In an environment where challenges and opportunities coexist, the session highlighted examples from economies actively pursuing research and investment to find solutions for economic development through cultural and creative industries. Studio Freewillusion CEO Kwon Hansl and Supertone CEO Lee Kyogu participated as invited speakers.
In the final session, “Prosper: Advancing a Prosperous Asia-Pacific Community through CCIs,” Edgelands Institute Chairman Yves Daccord served as the keynote speaker, and member economies continued discussions on practical cooperation measures in the cultural industry sector, including sharing best practices and educational training exchanges.
Notably, as the HLD-CCI concluded, APEC member economy participants adopted a joint statement. Key elements included shared recognition of the economic importance of cultural and creative industries and promoting innovation in creation and distribution utilizing digital and AI technologies.
