"Kim Koo Brought to Life by Generative AI"... 81st Liberation Day Commemorative Ceremony Held

Commemorative Ceremony Begins at 10 a.m. at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts

Celebratory Performances Combine Cutting-Edge Technology and the Arts

Honors Awarded to 283 Independence Contributors, Including Descendants of Choi Junrye

The 81st Liberation Day commemorative ceremony was held at 10 a.m. on August 15 at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul under the theme "An Irreplaceable Korea, Brighter Tomorrow Awaits."

More than 3,000 people attended the ceremony, including independence patriots, descendants of those recognized for their contributions to independence, representatives of political parties and religious groups, members of the diplomatic corps in Korea, citizens, and students, reaffirming the significance of liberation.

The government Seoul office building adorned with a large Taegeukgi flag. Photo by Yonhap News

This year’s celebration not only paid tribute to the spirit of liberation achieved by the ancestors but also focused on presenting a vision for the future of Korea shaped by the next generations. The order of events included the opening declaration, the national ceremony, commemorative speeches, awards for independence patriots, congratulatory remarks, celebratory performances, singing of the Liberation Day anthem, and the collective "Manse Samchang" (Three Cheers for Independence).

During the national ceremony, actor Ha Dokwon—who played the role of Baekbeom Kim Koo in the documentary "Model Prison," commemorating 80 years since liberation—recited the Pledge to the National Flag. Soprano Hwang Sumi, who has won international competitions and now mentors the next generation, performed the national anthem.

The highlight video reinterpreted the dreams of independence activists such as Kim Koo, Ahn Changho, and Lee Hoeyoung as a "Relay of Dreams." Focusing especially on Kim Koo’s life and vision on the 150th anniversary of his birth, the video vividly portrayed the evolution of aspirations for a cultural powerhouse, a global nation, and self-reliant defense into today’s Korea.

The celebratory performances combined cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) with the arts, featuring three acts that offered a multidimensional look at Korea’s present and future.

The first act, "Today, Korea," showcased the country’s growing stature on the world stage in fields like K-Culture, the semiconductor industry, and global diplomacy through video presentations.

The second act, "Irreplaceable Korea," featured VR artist Peony delivering a real-time digital drawing performance onstage, visually representing the future blueprints that are being shaped by three major mega-projects—semiconductors, AI, and more.

The third act, "One Team, One Dream," saw singer Choi Yoojung and a 40-member National Choir perform "ONE Dream," delivering a message of national unity and hope.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung wave the Taegeukgi flag after shouting "Manse" together with attendees at the 80th Liberation Day celebration held at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul on August 15, 2025. Photo by the Presidential Office Press Photographers Group, Yonhap News Agency

The highlight of this year’s ceremony was undoubtedly the "Manse Samchang" (Three Cheers for Independence) held in conjunction with the ancestors reimagined by AI. Lee Jongchan, president of the Liberation Association, descendants of independence patriots, those in charge of the three major mega-projects, and members of the national Paralympic team all took to the stage and joined in the cheers. Simultaneously, LED screens featured re-creations of ancestors such as Kim Koo through generative AI. The scene of past, present, and future generations becoming one through technology left a profound impact on many attendees.

To commemorate Liberation Day this year, the government awarded honors to a total of 283 individuals recognized for their contributions to independence. During the ceremony, government awards were presented to five people, including descendants of the late Choi Junrye—Kim Koo's spouse and a teacher at Ansinyeo School in Hwanghae Province known for her work in women’s enlightenment and supporting the Provisional Government.

This year’s Liberation Day ceremony is being praised as an event that actively leveraged advanced technologies such as AI and VR to extend the spirit of liberation into the future. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety stated, "Beyond honoring the spirit of our ancestors, we focused on sharing with the public a vision for the Korea to be created by future generations."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety launched the "Love for the Nation—Fly the Taegeukgi" campaign, providing guidance on how to properly display the national flag and explaining the significance of raising the Taegeukgi on Liberation Day. To help citizens unable to display a physical flag, mobile wallpapers of "Taegeukgi in Your Hand" were distributed so that people can celebrate with the national flag even in digital environments.

All attendees at the ceremony received commemorative gifts—keycap keychains featuring national symbols such as the Taegeukgi and Mugunghwa—so that they can keep these emblems close in daily life.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.