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81 Years Since Korea Regained Its Freedom, Busan Moves Forward Again! Busan Metropolitan City to Hold the 81st National Liberation Day Celebration

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, will hold the 81st National Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, August 15, at the Grand Theater of Busan Citizens' Hall.

Before the ceremony, at 9:00 a.m., Mayor Chun Jae-soo and approximately 20 heads of major institutions and other officials will visit the memorial tablet enshrinement hall at the Liberation Memorial Hall to pay tribute to patriotic martyrs.

Approximately 1,300 people will attend the ceremony, including Mayor Chun Jae-soo, heads of major institutions, bereaved families of independence patriots, veterans' organizations, civic groups, and members of the public.

The ceremony will include the pledge of allegiance and other national rites, a commemorative video, the reading of a commemorative address by Baek Gi-hwan, Head of the Gwangbokhoe Busan Metropolitan City Branch, presentation of government honors, a celebratory address by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, a commemorative performance by the Busan Metropolitan Performing Arts Company, the singing of the National Liberation Day song, and three cheers for Korea.

This year's commemorative performance, presented by the Busan Metropolitan Performing Arts Company to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Baekbeom Kim Gu, is titled "Liberation: A Time Connected by Light."

The multidisciplinary performance combines light and movement to portray the dialogue and journey of Baekbeom Kim Gu and a child representing future generations, tracing hope as it begins with a single ray of light, spreads across the world, and ultimately reaches the light of liberation. Through their journey, the performance invites audiences to reflect on the true meaning and value of national liberation.

As part of the government honors, Presidential Commendations will be awarded posthumously to Lee Hyeon-chan, who in January 1930, while a third-year student at Paichai High School in Seoul, took part in a pro-independence demonstration in support of the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, and to Jo Yeong-ok, who was arrested in August 1918 in Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, while resisting the economic exploitation of Japanese fishermen.

The commendation certificates will be presented to Lee Myeong-ho, son of the late Lee Hyeon-chan, and Jo Gyu-deok, grandson of the late Jo Yeong-ok.

Meanwhile, in observance of National Liberation Day, Busan Metropolitan City and its districts and counties will carry out the "Together with the Taegeukgi" flag-flying campaign to honor the achievements of the patriotic martyrs who upheld national dignity in the struggle to restore Korea's sovereignty, carry forward and advance the spirit of self-reliant independence, and foster national unity and patriotism.

For four days from August 12 to 15, Taegeukgi flags will be displayed throughout Busan, including on public institution websites, along major arterial roads, and on public transportation, in tribute to the spirit of self-reliant independence.

On the day of the ceremony, Mayor Chun Jae-soo will express his deepest respect for the patriotic martyrs who devoted themselves to the independence of the nation. In his celebratory address, he is expected to say, "National Liberation Day is a deeply moving day when we regained the national sovereignty that had been taken from us and recovered the light that enabled our people to build with our own hands the country we had dreamed of."

He is also expected to say, "Throughout the turbulent course of history, Busan has always stood at the forefront of the Republic of Korea's progress. Over the past 150 years, the Port of Busan has connected the Republic of Korea to the world. Now, through the new maritime route of the Arctic Sea Route, Busan must lead the Republic of Korea toward an even greater leap forward. Just as the fervent patriotism of our forebears ultimately brought about the liberation of our homeland, we will now open a new future for Busan and the Republic of Korea, and together with our citizens, we will surely fulfill the dream of making Busan a global maritime capital."