August 15 is one of the most important holidays in the Korean calendar. Independence Day or Gwangbkjeol 광복절 as it is called in Korea consists of the 3 words gwang 광 (light), bok 복(return) and jeol 절(holiday) which literally means “to bring back the light”.
Korea only gained its liberation at the End of World War II and after 36 years of oppression by the Japanese. In the final stages of World War II, the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This event led the Japanese to surrender and sign the Potsdam Declaration. The Potsdam Declaration included provisions of the 1943 Cairo Declaration, which guaranteed Korea’s freedom from colonization. The Korean peninsula was finally liberated on August 15, 1945. On the same day, three years later and after a futile attempt for an all-Korean solution, a South Korean constitution was adopted and an independent government established.
With the passage of the National Holidays Act in 1949, August 15 became a national holiday. This is to commemorate the liberation of Korea from Japanese colonial rule. On August 15, numerous commemorative events are held all over the peninsula. In addition, Korean citizens are encouraged to fly the Korean national flag “Taegeukgi” in front of their homes or on the streets.
Gwangbokjeol is one of the few holidays shared with North Korea, which also celebrates “Liberation Day” on August 15. Independence Day is a public holiday in South Korea – the day when Korea regained its independence after 36 years of oppression by the Japanese.
