1,815 Taegeukgis: Songpa District's Special Liberation Day

The Only Nationwide Chorus of 1,815 Voices at Lotte Concert Hall
Descendants of Independence Activists and a Sign Language Choir Joined the Stage

1,815 people, each wearing red, blue, or white T-shirts, filled the multi-level seats of Lotte Concert Hall. As the colors spread across the audience, the hall soon turned into a massive Taegeukgi, the Korean national flag. This was the scene on the afternoon of August 14, the day before Liberation Day, at the '8·15 The Day Light Was Regained, Chorus of Joy' event organized by Songpa District. The number 1,815 itself symbolizes August 15.

Mr. Kwangtae Kim (photo) said, "Our sign language is a special song sung with eyes and hands." Mr. Kim is singing in sign language. Provided by Songpa District.

Now in its fourth year, the Songpa District Residents Chorus is the nation's only large-scale Liberation Day event with direct participation from local residents. Last year's stage, held at Seoul Nori Madang, was relocated this year to Lotte Concert Hall, one of Korea's top performance venues. The hallmark of the event is that residents themselves are the main participants, rather than a select choir group. Ahead of the main performance, participants gathered three times to practice together.

Songpa District Mayor Kang Seok Seo stood on stage, looking out at the audience for a while. "What a grand sight this is. 1,815 Songpa residents have filled this concert hall."

He went on to say, "The day we regained the light is also the day we reclaimed the Taegeukgi, the symbol of our nation," elaborating on the purity symbolized by the white background and the harmony and coexistence represented by the red and blue Taegeuk. He then emphasized, "Now that we have recovered the Taegeukgi, we will never lose it again."

Before the main performance, a celebratory stage opened the event. Students from Hanlim Multi Art School's musical theater department joined soprano Baewoori and tenor Kim Jin-Hoon to sing pieces such as "Hoping for That Day" from the musical 'Hero,' which recounts the life of Independence Movement activist Ahn Jung-geun. The stage was filled with a narrative of ardent longing for independence.

The grand chorus began with accompaniment by the Songpa District Symphony Orchestra. Opening with "Patriotic Song of the Independence Army," the repertoire continued with seven songs in total, including "My Country My People," "Beautiful Country," "Beautiful Rivers and Mountains," and "Liberation Day Song." All 1,815 participants, diverse in age and background, sang together.

Among them were voices with special significance. Members of Songpa’s local Liberation Association, descendants of independence activists, took the stage to add depth to the occasion. Grandfather Yang Hae Seop participated alongside his daughter and two grandchildren, marking two consecutive years that three generations sang together.

There was also a song sung without sound. Twenty-five hearing-impaired participants performed a sign language choir piece expressing liberation through their hands and facial expressions. Among them was Kwangtae Kim, now in his 80s. Having been contacted by the Songpa District Sign Language Interpretation Center, he stood on stage with the knowledge that he could not hear the music, so he watched the sign language interpreter out front to memorize the lyrics and tempo. Each morning upon waking, he recited the lyrics; each evening, he gathered with friends to practice with their hands.

He said, "It was tough remembering the lyrics because of my age," but added, "I practiced over and over again." Nevertheless, he wrote, "The fact that I could participate in such a meaningful event as Liberation Day with fellow members of the Deaf community transformed that difficult process into joy."

The line he most wanted to convey to the audience was, "Isn't it happiness to be born in this land of many beautiful dreams?" He said, "In my youth, I had dreams I wanted to achieve, and though there were many hardships over the years, looking back on the life I have lived in this land, I am sincerely grateful and happy." Since he was born around Liberation Day, the occasion was all the more special for him.

The concert reached its climax with everyone chanting "Manse" three times. Kwangtae Kim and all 1,815 attendees raised both hands high, expressing their wishes for the day. Red, blue, and white surged together as the grand finale.

At the 4th annual ‘Songpa Residents’ Chorus’ this year, Seogangseok, Mayor of Songpa District (left), is cheering with a shout of "Banzai." Provided by Songpa District.

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