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"Curious August 15" — Busan Museum of Modern History to Host Children’s Summer Vacation Program in Commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Liberation

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The Busan Museum of Modern History (hereinafter referred to as “the Museum”) announced it will host a summer vacation program for elementary school students titled Cool “Muse-cation”: Curious August 15 from August 12 to 17.
○ “Muse-cation” is a coined term combining “museum” and “vacation,” designed to provide children with a fun and meaningful museum experience during their summer break.
○ This year’s (2025) Cool “Muse-cation” program will commemorate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation and will be held under the theme of “The Meaning of Liberation Day and August 15.”

The educational program consists of three parts:
▲ learning the meaning of Liberation Day,
▲ creating a mind map of August 15, and
▲ making a Korean alphabet bead keyring.

○ First, students will explore the significance of Liberation Day and the process through which it became a national holiday. They will learn the meanings and differences between the various terms referring to August 15 (Gwangbok, Doknip, Haebang—“liberation,” “independence,” “freedom”), as well as the aspirations of the people at the time reflected in those words. The session will also introduce how other countries commemorate August 15, providing global historical context.
○ Next, students will create a mind map of August 15, revisiting the meanings of key terms and expressing their personal interpretation of the day through writing and drawing—helping them define the significance of Liberation Day in their own way.

○ The final session is a hands-on activity to make a Korean alphabet bead keyring. Students will select the term that resonates most with them—“liberation,” “independence,” or “freedom”—and craft their own keyring using beads, capturing their memory of August 15 and the meaning of Liberation Day.

The program will run twice a day (10:30 AM and 1:00 PM) from August 12 to 17. Registration opens at 10:00 AM on August 4 via the city’s integrated reservation system (reserve.busan.go.kr), and is on a first-come, first-served basis. Each session is limited to 16 participants.
○ The program is free of charge and open to elementary students in grades 2 through 6 residing in Busan.
○ For more information, please visit the Museum’s website (busan.go.kr/mmch) or call ☎ 051-607-8031.

Kim Gi-yong, Director of the Busan Museum of Modern History, stated,
“Historical terms may seem similar but carry distinct meanings, embodying the hopes and wishes of the people at that time,” and added,
“I hope this program offers a meaningful opportunity to deepen the understanding of Liberation Day by exploring the diverse terminology used to describe August 15.”