'2020 Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival' Held Online Throughout August

Online Independence Fighters, Independence Heroes Descendants Search Challenge, 10,000 Voices of the Declaration of Independence, etc.

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun District, is participating in the 'Finding Descendants of Independence Heroes SNS Challenge,' one of the programs of the '2020 Online Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival' at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Seodaemun-gu (Mayor Moon Seok-jin) will hold the ‘2020 Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival’ online throughout August to commemorate the ‘75th Anniversary of Liberation Day.’

This festival, which has been held annually at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall on Liberation Day to share the joy of liberation and the values of freedom, peace, and democracy, will be conducted this year through non-face-to-face (untact) programs using SNS to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

First, inspired by the year 2020, 2,020 pre-registered participants will receive picture (photo) puzzles related to the Battle of Bongodong, the Battle of Cheongsanri, the June 10th Independence Movement, and the June Democratic Uprising. After assembling the puzzles, they will watch related YouTube videos to learn about history in the ‘Online Independence Army’ program.

There will also be an ‘SNS Challenge to Find Descendants of Independence Heroes,’ introducing 30 independence activists who were imprisoned at Seodaemun Prison and seeking their descendants.

Participants will display the independence activist card news from the Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival website on their smartphones, take certification photos holding them, upload them to their own SNS, and nominate three others to continue the challenge.

Additionally, programs include ▲the ‘Sing Together (Si) Challenge,’ where participants sing songs with lyrics based on poems by poets Yun Dong-ju, Kim So-wol, and Kim Nam-ju ▲‘Declaration of Independence, Ten Thousand Voices,’ where participants read the March 1st Independence Declaration in their own voices ▲‘Remember Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival,’ sharing photos taken at festivals from 2010 to 2019 ▲and ‘Three Meals, Three Heroes (Sam-si-se-ung),’ introducing six independence and democracy figures three times a day over two days.

Participants in these programs will receive commemorative items related to independence and democracy through a lottery.

Moreover, an 8-minute 15-second video titled ‘8.15 Liberation Day 8 Minutes 15 Seconds Quick Summary’ by writer Shim Yong-hwan, conveying the significance of liberation, will be available on the festival website.

Other online programs include ▲historical and cultural content experience ‘Making History’ ▲citizen lectures ‘From Anti-Japanese Righteous Armies to the Korean Liberation Army’ ▲video prison experiences ‘Singing the Night in Prison’ and ‘Walking Following the Star of Independence.’

From August 14, the eve of Liberation Day, to October 31, an exhibition titled ‘Finding Descendants of Independence Heroes’ will be held at the 10th prison building of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall.

On August 15 at 8 p.m., the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra will hold a concert at the outdoor special stage of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall to commemorate the 75th anniversary of liberation, performing the national anthem, Arirang, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 ‘Fate,’ Sibelius’s Finlandia, and more. The concert will be live-streamed on YouTube, and about 150 people who apply in advance will attend in person.

Mayor Moon Seok-jin said, “A new trend in festivals is emerging in the post-COVID era,” adding, “I hope this becomes an opportunity for anyone to participate in various programs regardless of time and place, learn about the history of independence and democracy, and reflect on its spirit.”

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