Interior ministry to hold 81st Liberation Day ceremony

The interior ministry said Saturday it will hold South Korea's 81st Liberation Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at Sejong Culture Center's Grand Theater in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with about 3,000 people expected to attend. The attendees will include independence activists' families, senior state officials, representatives of political parties and religious groups, diplomats, citizens and students.

The event, themed "A Brighter Tomorrow, an Irreplaceable Korea," will include a video featuring Kim Gu, Ahn Chang-ho and Yi Hoe-yeong and their visions of cultural strength, a global nation and self-reliant defense. The ministry said the theme looks beyond commemorating the liberation spirit and presents a vision of the Korea future generations will open. The video will trace a "relay of dreams" from independence activists' aspirations to modern Korea.

In his commemorative address, President Lee Jae-myung said, "We will achieve a liberation of hope, free from setbacks in growth and anxiety about the future; a liberation of opportunity in which anyone can take on challenges beyond the gap of imbalance and inequality; a liberation of balance, where new possibilities bloom across the country; and a liberation of peace, clearing away the threats of war and confrontation."

The three-act performance will open with a video spotlighting Korea's standing in K-culture, the semiconductor industry and global diplomacy. In the second act, virtual-reality artist Pioni will give a drawing performance portraying future plans under three mega projects, including semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Singer Choi Yu-jung and a 40-member national choir will perform "One Dream" in the final act. During the ceremony's three cheers of "manse," Kim Gu and other independence activists will appear on LED screens in generative AI images alongside Gwangbokhoe head Lee Jong-chan, descendants of independence activists, mega-project officials and Paralympic athletes.

The government selected 283 people for awards honoring contributions to the independence movement. Five descendants will receive awards at the ceremony, including a descendant of the late Choi Jun-rye, a teacher at Anshin Girls' School in Hwanghae who supported the Provisional Government.

The ministry is also running a national flag-display campaign with central and local governments. It will distribute a mobile "Taegeukgi in My Hand" wallpaper through its official blog for phones and social media.