“Let us think about how to develop this country well by thinking about the excitement of liberation when everyone became one and shouted ‘Long Live Korean Independence’ 79 years ago.”

At the 79th Liberation Day celebration held at the Ace Hall of Yongin City Hall on the 15th, Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City emphasized that we should pay tribute to the sacrifices of our patriotic ancestors and martyrs and consider ways to further develop the Republic of Korea based on their spirit of independence. He said that he had experienced the heightened status of the Republic of Korea at the recent French Olympics and that this glory was due to the sacrifices of our ancestors.

[Korean Today] Yongin Special City held the 79th Liberation Day celebration ceremony at the city hall Ace Hall on the 15th. © Reporter Na-yeon Kim

Mayor Lee Sang-il of Yongin Special City paid tribute to the spirit of independence and sacrifice of the patriotic martyrs and martyrs at the ’79th Anniversary of Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony’ held at the Ace Hall of Yongin City Hall on the 15th. The mayor said, “Today marks the 79th anniversary of our people regaining light from darkness, and I think about how moving the moment of liberation must have been at that time,” and “I sincerely express my respect and admiration to the patriotic martyrs and martyrs.”

He also shared his experience of visiting the Olympic Games held in France recently, and said that he felt the heightened status of South Korea. The mayor said, “I realized how much South Korea’s status has risen when I saw many foreigners in France asking to see the Taegeukgi and Mugunghwa badges that I wore around my neck,” and “This honor would not have been possible without the struggles and sacrifices of the patriotic martyrs, patriots, and independence activists.”

[Korean Today] Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il is giving a congratulatory speech at the 79th Liberation Day celebration ceremony on the 15th. © Reporter Kim Na-yeon

This market mentioned the earnest hope for the day of Korean independence in the poem “When That Day Comes” by Sim Hoon during the Japanese colonial period, and said, “On that day of liberation, our people would have become one, without ideology or faction, with only the determination to realize the will of independence.” He also emphasized, “We must understand the hearts of our ancestors and forefathers and think together about how to develop the Republic of Korea better.”

Along with this, the market emphasized that Yongin Special City is doing its best to carry on the spirit of the patriotic martyrs, patriots, and independence activists who sacrificed themselves for the country. He said, “Yongin Special City will complete the construction of the Veterans Hall within the year and create a Veterans Park next to it to carry on the patriotic spirit of the patriotic martyrs, patriots, and spirits of those who protected the country.”

[Korean Today] Major attendees, including Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il and Yongin Branch President of the Gwangbokhoe, are cheering three times at the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day. © Reporter Kim Na-yeon

The celebration on this day was hosted by the Yongin branch of the Gwangbokhoe and supported by the budget of Yongin City. Approximately 300 people attended the event, including descendants of independence activists, Yongin Special City Council Speaker Yoo Jin-seon, city and provincial council members, heads of local veterans organizations, and citizens. The event proceeded in the following order: awarding commendations to the bereaved families of exemplary independence activists, showing a video commemorating Gwangbokjeol, singing the Gwangbokjeol song, cheering three times, special performances, and a congratulatory performance by the children’s musical group ‘Little Yongin.’

In particular, the exemplary bereaved family of independence activists award went to Shin Gye-yeon, a descendant of patriot Kim Eun-ju, Hong Bu-nam, a descendant of patriot Hong Jae-taek, and Kim Dong-ik, a descendant of patriot Kim Sang-jong. In addition, the children’s musical group ‘Little Yongin’ reenacted the Danji Alliance from the original musical ‘Hero’, which deals with the last year of independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, adding meaning to the Liberation Day celebration.