Malaysia celebrates National Day on the 31st of August every year as a mark of independence of Malaya from the British colonization. For Koreans, this day of nation victory is celebrated every year on the 15th of August!
Why is the Korean Liberation Day celebrated every year?
Korean Liberation Day, also known as Gwang-bok-cheol (κ΄λ³΅μ ) falls on August 15 every year, to celebrate the day when the Japan colonial rule was ended in the peninsula of Korea from 1910 – 1945 on 15th August 1945. This day was also marked the end of second World War when the U.S. and Soviet forces helped ended the Japanese occupation in different states of Asia.
The meaning behind ‘Gwang-bok-cheol’ ( κ΄λ³΅μ / ε εΎ©η― )
South Koreans refer this holiday as ‘κ΄λ³΅μ ’ (gwang-bok-jeol) in Hangul, literally meaning the day when light was restored. This symbolizes the meaning of independence from darkness (sufferings) during the Japanese colonization.
This holiday is one of the most important and meaningful day to remember as the citizen of Koreans. This day is also celebrated by the North Koreans, but with another name in their language called ‘μ‘°κ΅ν΄λ°©μ λ ’ (jo-guk-hae-bang-ei nal), literally meaning ‘Liberation of Fatherland Day’.
How Koreans are celebrating the Korean Liberation Day?
During this holiday, an official ceremony is organized every year with the President attending at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan or the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. Korean public is encouraged to decorate their houses and shops with Korean national flag, Taegukgi.
Yu Gwan-Su, the lady who once fight for the independence
Many Koreans fight for independence during the Japanese occupation and a teenage girl Yu Gwan-Su was among the most popular figure of Korean fighting for their nation.
Yu Gwan-Su started March 1 Movement in year 1919 to have a peace demonstration in public to gather the nation together against the Japanese occupation. She called doors by doors to invite people of her town to join the movement which happened at the Aunae Marketplace.
Due to the March Movement, she was imprisoned while her parents were killed by the Japanese authority. She died in the young age due to harsh torture.
It is truly an important date to remember and appreciate all the activists and soldiers who sacrificed for the independence of the nation to create the Korea today!
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MyDaehan π 