Mayor Joo Gwangdeok Vows to Honor Forebears' Spirit and Lead Namyangju Toward a "City of One Million"

Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Day
Honoring the Spirit of Independence and Pledging a "New Century" with Citizens

Namyangju City in Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Joo Gwangdeok) held a ceremony at Dasan Hall in City Hall on the 15th to mark the 80th anniversary of the August 15 Liberation Day, honoring the sacrifices of the nation's martyrs and pledging to carry forward the spirit of independence into the next century.

Joo Gwangdeok, mayor of Namyangju City, is delivering a congratulatory speech at the 80th anniversary of the August 15 Liberation Day celebration held at Dasan Hall in the city hall on the 15th. Provided by Namyangju City

The event was attended by more than 500 people, including Mayor Joo Gwangdeok, City Council Chairman Cho Seongdae, members of the National Assembly, provincial and city council members, Lee Gilhyeong, head of the Namyangju branch of the Liberation Association, descendants of independence activists, heads of veterans' organizations, families with a tradition of military service, and local citizens, all reflecting on the meaning of liberation.

The ceremony began with a special video titled "80 Years of Light, Now We Call Your Name," which highlighted the March 1 Independence Movement in Namyangju.

This was followed by a variety of programs, including a performance of the original musical "Yearning" created by local youth based on the Wolsan-ri Independence Movement, commemorative speeches, commendations for distinguished members of the Liberation Association, a donation ceremony by Giwon Whisky Distillery, and celebratory performances.

Notably, this year marked the debut of the original song "When the Dawn Breaks and the New Year Rises," which won the top prize in the citizen participation contest "Walking Through Memories, Connecting Empathy," an initiative to promote a culture of honoring veterans.

The song, composed by a young local musician registered as a "descendant of Jeong Yak-yong," was inspired by Namyangju's history of independence activism. The composer and the Maumsori Choir performed the piece together, with the audience joining in to create a meaningful moment.

Joo Gwangdeok, Mayor of Namyangju City, and attendees are shouting "Banzai" three times. Provided by Namyangju City

At the entrance to the venue, entries from the citizen participation contest were on display, drawing the attention of attendees.

Additionally, about 50 children from local community centers, forming the Maumsori Choir, sang with gratitude and respect, further enhancing the significance of the ceremony.

Mayor Joo Gwangdeok stated, "Namyangju is a city where the spirit of independence, rooted in the sacrifices of Lee Seokyoung's family and countless other independence activists who disappeared without name or recognition, continues to live and breathe. We will work together with citizens to ensure that honoring our veterans becomes part of our daily lives, not just a memory for special occasions."

He went on to emphasize, "Let us all join together in the journey to build a great Namyangju of one million people, in line with the aspirations of our forebears."

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