[Weekly Focus] Remembering Korea’s courage and sacrifice on the 80th Liberation Day

This Friday, August 15th, marked the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

On this historic occasion, we look at how the nation honors and remembers those who gave their lives for independence.

Joining us in the studio with more is our reporter, Park Hyo-been.

Welcome, Hyo-been.

Thanks for having me today.

Q1. So Hyo-been, I think this year's August 15th is especially meaningful as it marks the 80th year of liberation. Can you briefly explain Korea's Liberation Day and what significance does it hold?

Korea's National Liberation Day, or also known as Gwangbokjeol in Korean, is celebrated to mark Korea's independence from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, after 35 years of occupation.

The name Gwangbokjeol combines Gwangbok, meaning "restoration of light" with jeol, meaning "festival day."

It is a time to honor all those who made sacrifices for the nation's freedom , with commemorative events held nationwide.

Each year, many museums and palaces host special exhibitions around the anniversary to remember their legacy and share the history with the public.

Q2. Right, in line with that, I heard that you visited a special exhibition that showcases Korea's resistance.

Could you tell us more about the exhibition?

To mark the 80th anniversary of Korea's Liberation, a special exhibition at Deoksugung Palace brings together over 110 artifacts from the late 19th century to the day the nation reclaimed its freedom.

For the first time, Korean independence hero Ahn Jung-geun's calligraphy is being showcased to the public.

The two letters, meaning 'green bamboo' , show his strong opposition to Japanese rule.

His final brushstrokes, made in a cold Lushun prison cell before his execution, capture not only defiance against Japan, but also a longing for peace in Asia and respect for human dignity.

The exhibition also highlights lesser-known independence fighters.

Min Young-hwan took his own life in protest after the Eulsa Treaty stripped Korea of its sovereignty, writing, "If our freedom and independence are restored, I shall gladly smile even in the afterlife."

The spirit of defiance is also preserved in the national flag , a Taegeukgi found at Jingwansa Temple, riddled with holes and burn marks.

Believed to have been made during the March 1st Independence Movement in 1919, it bears the Korean flag's taegeuk symbol and trigrams painted in black ink over the Japanese flag, showing the message of resistance.

"This Taegeukgi, national flag of Korea, found at Jingwansa Temple, is even more meaningful as it shows just how fiercely our independence fighters carried out their work in secrecy."

It's actually quite rare for the Jingwansa Taegeukgi to be on display for the public.

You can also see that the Jingwansa Taegeukgi and the Taegeukgi we see today are a little bit different.

The taegeuk symbol is drawn differently, and the positions of the four trigrams in the corners aren't quite the same as today.

That's because when the Taegeukgi was adopted as the official national flag in 1883, the law at the time only specified the use of the taegeuk and trigrams, without defining the exact design.

The exhibition runs until October 12th, so, for anyone who wants to commemorate Gwangbokjeol , or experience the strength and courage of Korean independence heroes, I highly recommend visiting the exhibition.

Q3. Are there any other exhibitions available for visitors to explore more about Korean history?

Yes, the National Museum of Korea has restored the faces of five iconic figures, using cutting-edge AI technology.

Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Japanese governor Ito Hirobumi, now waves with a bright smile.

Yu Gwan-sun, who died in prison at 17, appears as a shy girl with a gentle smile.

Lee Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil, who threw bombs at Japanese leaders, come alive with warm expressions.

And Ahn Chang-ho, an educator and activist, greets with a friendly wave.

"It was amazing to see what I had only imagined from textbooks. Since it's the 80th anniversary, it really feels like a meaningful exhibition."

"Through AI recreation, I could almost feel their spirit and character."

Behind that smile lies a darker history , one the museum is determined to show.

For the first time ever, Japan's surveillance cards of independence heroes are on display.

In particular, the five surveillance cards of Ahn Chang-ho show how his face became noticeably gaunt through repeated imprisonments.

"These cards were made to systematically manage imprisoned independence activists. They're about palm-sized, but filled with detailed information, including names and photos."

Liberation Day in Korea is more than a historical anniversary.

It is a moment to reflect on the cost of freedom, and to honor those who paid that price.

And now, with AI, the voices and faces of Korea's fight for independence can finally be seen and heard.

Alright, Hyo-been, thank you for sharing those powerful stories with us.

We appreciate it.

Thank you Eun-ji, it was my pleasure.