What Is Gwangbokjeol? Why Korea Celebrates August 15
On the morning of August 15, you may notice something different as you walk through a Korean neighborhood. Korean national flags, known as Taegeukgi, hang from apartment balconies and house windows, while rows of flags line major streets.
It is Gwangbokjeol (National Liberation Day of Korea), one of South Korea’s national holidays.
For Koreans, August 15 is a familiar date on the calendar. But if you are new to Korean history and culture, you might wonder: What exactly happened on this day, and why is it called Gwangbokjeol?
Gwangbokjeol
- Date: August 15 every year
- Korean name: Gwangbokjeol
- What it commemorates: Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule in 1945
- What kind of day is it? A national holiday and public holiday in South Korea
- What you may see: Taegeukgi displayed at homes and along streets, an official government ceremony, and other commemorative events
1. What Is Gwangbokjeol?
Korea was under Japanese colonial rule for 35 years, from 1910 to 1945. During those years, many Koreans worked for independence both inside and outside the country.
In 1945, Japan surrendered at the end of World War II, bringing its colonial rule over Korea to an end. On August 15, Koreans finally welcomed the liberation they had long waited for. South Korea now commemorates this date every year as Gwangbokjeol.
There are two dates that can be easy to confuse:
Two August 15s in Korean History
August 15, 1945
Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule.
August 15, 1948
The government of the Republic of Korea was established.
The two events happened on the same date, three years apart, but they are not the same historical event. Gwangbokjeol commemorates the liberation of 1945, while August 15 also marks the establishment of the South Korean government in 1948.
2. Why Is It Called “Gwangbokjeol”?
The Korean name Gwangbokjeol carries a meaning that the English term Liberation Day does not fully capture.
What Does “Gwangbok” Mean?
Gwang (光)
Light
+
Bok (復)
To restore or regain
↓
Gwangbok (光復) = “The Restoration of Light”
The word evokes the image of a country emerging from a period of darkness and finding its light again after regaining its independence. When you think about what the word represents, the name feels remarkably fitting.
The final syllable, jeol (節), is used for an important commemorative day or national holiday. In English, Gwangbokjeol is commonly called National Liberation Day of Korea.
3. How Do Koreans Spend Gwangbokjeol?
Not every Korean spends Gwangbokjeol attending a ceremony or taking part in a special event. For many people, it is also a summer public holiday—a day to rest or spend time with family.
Still, there are a few sights that make August 15 look different from an ordinary day.
What You May See on Gwangbokjeol
🇰🇷 Taegeukgi at Homes and Along the Streets
People are encouraged to display the Taegeukgi at home. You may see the flag hanging outside houses or apartment windows and balconies, as well as along major streets and around public buildings.
🏛️ Official Ceremonies and Commemorative Events
The government holds an official ceremony to mark Gwangbokjeol. Museums and memorial sites connected to Korea’s independence movement may also hold special exhibitions or events.
📺 History Returns to TV
Television networks sometimes air films, documentaries, and special programs about the Japanese colonial period, the Korean independence movement, and modern Korean history.
4. How Do Korean Children Learn About Gwangbokjeol?
Korean children are introduced to Gwangbokjeol from a fairly young age.
At daycare centers and kindergartens, children may color or make their own Taegeukgi before August 15. The history behind the holiday is too complex to explain fully to very young children, so it may first be introduced in simple terms, such as “the day Korea regained its freedom.”
As children enter school and grow older, they learn more about the Japanese colonial period, the independence movement, and the people who fought for Korean independence. Gradually, they begin to understand the history behind a date they may once have known simply as a national holiday.
A Childhood Memory
When I was a child, Gwangbokjeol always fell right in the middle of summer vacation. We sometimes had vacation assignments related to the holiday, such as writing about Gwangbokjeol or drawing a picture based on the theme.
I still remember one of those drawing assignments. My father, who is quite artistic and good with his hands, helped me with it—and somehow, the picture ended up winning a prize. Instead of feeling proud, I remember feeling rather awkward about it. I knew very well who deserved most of the credit.
5. Why Gwangbokjeol Still Matters Generations Later
As a child, I honestly thought of Gwangbokjeol as little more than another day off during summer vacation. I learned what it meant in school, but history that had happened long before I was born did not feel especially close to me at that age.
That changed somewhat after I became a parent. Watching my children grow, I often find myself hoping that the world they inherit will be a little better than the one before it. And when I think about the people who risked their lives for Korea’s independence, I sometimes wonder whether the future they imagined included not only themselves, but the generations that would come after them.
I hope that one day my children understand that the ordinary lives we enjoy today were built, in part, on the sacrifice, courage, and determination of people who came before us. And when they understand that, I hope they feel grateful.
What Displaying the Taegeukgi Means to Me
That is also part of what displaying the Taegeukgi on Gwangbokjeol means to me. It celebrates Korea’s liberation, but for me, it is also a small way of expressing gratitude and respect for those who sacrificed and devoted themselves to the country’s independence.
COMING UP NEXT
How Does Trash and Recycling Work in Korea?
Sorting trash in Korea can be surprisingly detailed. From food waste and recyclables to special garbage bags, the rules are part of everyday life. Next, we’ll take a closer look at how people sort and dispose of their waste in Korea.