80 citizens, 80 letters: The people delivering Lee their ‘mandate'
Eighty people, selected to represent each of the 80 years since liberation in 1945, are to take part in the ceremony coinciding with Liberation Day at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. Each representative will step onto a circular stage and place a personally written letter of appointment inside a large symbolic cube set at the center in an event beginning at 8 p.m.
Four particular individuals — Mok Jang-gyun, a descendant of an independence fighter, Lee Guk-jong, director of the Armed Forces Daejeon Hospital, Lee Yeon-soo, CEO of NCSoft's artificial intelligence division, and film director Ha Ga-young — will be the last to place their letters.
Among the 80, several figures stand out for their roles in key historical and contemporary moments.
Lee Kyung-pil, 74, represents the year 1950 as one of five infants born aboard a US military vessel during the Hungnam evacuation at the start of the Korean War.
Representing the year 1960 is Lee Hae-hak, an 80-year-old pastor who took part in the April Revolution that brought down President Syngman Rhee's authoritarian rule.
In 2016, professional Go player Lee Sedol, now 42, drew international attention for his competition against Google's artificial intelligence program AlphaGo.
The list also includes married couple Yoo Choong-won and Kim Sook-jung, honored for physically blocking an armored vehicle during former President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration in December 2024.
Kim Joon-young and Sa Gong Hye-ran, who gave birth to Korea's first quintuplets in nearly 40 years last year, were recognized for representing hope and social sustainability amid a deepening demographic crisis.
The ceremony will be attended by former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, as well as the family of the late President Roh Moo-hyun. Religious leaders and public figures across various sectors are also expected to attend.
Former Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye, along with the spouses of late Presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, were invited, but will not attend, citing health reasons. Members of the main opposition People Power Party and the minor New Reform Party said they would also not attend, in protest of Lee's special pardon of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk and former Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, who was convicted of embezzling donations intended for the victims of sex slavery during Japan's colonial rule.
A total of 3,500 members of the public, selected through an online application process, are to be present. The ceremony is to be broadcast live on KBS from 8 p.m.
According to presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the 80 representatives were chosen not only for notable achievements in areas spanning democracy, economic development, science, culture and sports, but also for representing the lived experiences of each generation.
'Together, they embody the everyday resilience and collective progress of the Korean people,' Kang said in a press briefing Thursday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Lee to host public film screening to commemorate 80th Liberation Day anniversary
President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday he will host a movie screening for members of the public this weekend as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. In a social media post, Lee said he plans to watch "La Resistance," a documentary film on the Korean independence movement, on Sunday at a movie theater in Seoul and shared a website link for the public to apply for the event. The exact location and time were not disclosed for security reasons. Lee said the participants will be chosen randomly due to limited seating and asked for the public's understanding. "Behind the prosperity and freedom we enjoy today are countless unsung heroes who devoted themselves with indomitable will for liberation and the restoration of our sovereignty," Lee wrote on social media. "I invite you to join me in remembering their sacrifice and honoring the meaning of the 80th Liberation Day." Liberation Day, celebrated annually on Aug. 15, commemorates the end of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Cho Kuk released after 8 months in prison, vows return to politics
Cho Kuk, a former justice minister and leader of the minor Rebuilding Korea Party, was released from prison early Friday after serving eight months in jail over academic fraud involving his children and unlawful interference in a government inspection. Cho, who had previously served as a senior presidential aide to Moon Jae-in, left the Seoul Southern Detention Center in Guro-gu, western Seoul, at 12:02 a.m. Friday. He is one of the beneficiaries of a special pardon from President Lee Jae Myung granted ahead of the Aug. 15 National Liberation Day. South Korean presidents have traditionally issued pardons to commemorate important national holidays, such as Liberation Day, celebrating Korea's 1945 independence from Japanese colonial rule, to reward the good behavior of offenders and foster national harmony. The 60-year-old was put behind bars and began what was to be a two-year prison term on Dec. 16, 2024, after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction. 'My pardon, reinstatement and release will be recorded as a symbolic moment, marking the end of the prosecutorial dictatorship that has long abused its power,' Cho told reporters as he left the prison. 'The Rebuilding Korea Party fought against the Yoon Suk Yeol administration to end the prosecution dictatorship since its creation. Yoon's regime committed an anti-constitutional coup; it was repelled by the people.' He added, 'The far-right People Power Party, which still continues to protect Yoon, must face judgment once again.' Cho expressed the hope that democratic and progressive parties would work together, emphasizing that he would devote himself and contribute to this united front. He also expressed gratitude to President Lee. 'I deeply thank President Lee Jae Myung for making this constitutional decision. I listen with respect to those who have criticized my pardon,' he said. 'The Lee Jae Myung administration is created by the people's resistance and sovereignty. This administration must succeed and President Lee must become a successful president.' Cho insisted that he would accept all criticism, opposition and even slanderous remarks directed at him as he continues his political work. A total of 2,188 people with criminal convictions received a presidential pardon. Former Seoul education chief Cho Hee-yeon, who lost his seat after he was convicted of abusing his power in the process of hiring five teachers, and former Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Yoon Mi-hyang, who was handed down a suspended sentence for embezzling donations to the victims of sex slavery during Japan's colonial rule, were included among those pardoned. Though Cho Kuk was set to be barred from running for public office for five years after the completion of his two-year prison term -- meaning he would effectively be stripped of eligibility to run for office until December 2031, the presidential pardon removed the restrictions on his political activities as it restores his civil rights.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Lee vows for safe, peaceful, people-powered nation in special ceremony
President Lee Jae Myung pledged to place the Korean people at the heart of his administration's vision upon receiving 80 letters of appointment from 80 citizens in a special ceremony, underscoring the legitimacy of his mandate from the people. 'We will build a Korea that truly belongs to the people — a nation where every citizen's potential is nurtured, where our national strength grows in step with your happiness and where that power is shared by all,' Lee said during the ceremony held at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul. 'At the center of the future we dream of will always be you, the great people of the Republic of Korea.' In his speech, Lee also addressed concerns regarding public safety. 'We hear the residents of Daeseong-dong, Paju, also known as the 'Freedom Village,' who long to live without war, without fear, and the bereaved families who demand that no more lives be unjustly taken in national tragedies,' Lee added. 'We will do everything in our power to make Korea a peaceful and safe place for all.' The event was held on the 80th Liberation Day, emphasizing the nation's foundation as deriving its power from the people. Each representative stepped onto a circular stage and placed a personally written letter of appointment to the president, who began his term with a brief inauguration after being elected on June 3. Of the 80 representatives, NCSoft's artificial intelligence division CEO Lee Yeon-soo presented her letter last, personally handing it to the president. 'As a scientist and technologist who carries the mission to develop AI that understands Korea's history and cultural industries without relying solely on foreign technologies, I appoint this person as the President of the Republic of Korea to lead the nation toward becoming a global AI powerhouse,' the CEO wrote in her letter of appointment, referring to Korea by its official name. Friday's evening event was adorned with cultural celebrations, including a traditional percussion "gilnori" performance with Korean instruments such as the sogo, janggu and buk, accompanied by the song 'Heya' sung by rock singers Jeong Hong-ill and Yun Seong. TDYA — a project girl group formed in celebration of Liberation Day, consisting of YouTube creator Unjunging, rapper Mirani, singer Hyun-jin of girl group Loona and dancer Amy — also took to the stage to perform 'Keep The Light.' Korean American singer-songwriter Ejae, the artist behind 'Golden' from the hit Netflix animated film 'K-pop Demon Hunters,' composed the track for the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese occupation. TDYA's stage was followed by a cheerleading performance by Big Tide Cheerleading, accompanied by songs such as "To You" by Shin Hae-chul and "Time of Our Life" by Day6, which were anthems played during the protests against former President Yoon Suk Yeol. Following the letters of appointment ceremony, a drone show and media projections decorated the Gwanghwamun Square. They were followed by a dance performance by street dance crew The Stories, a taekwondo performance by Tae Kwon Han Ryu as well as musical performances by singers Sandeul, Jung Eun-ji, girl group Izna and Lee Seung-hwan. Former President Moon Jae-in and his wife, family members of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, as well as religious and business leaders and various public figures, were also in attendance. A total of 3,500 members of the public selected through an online application process were present at Friday's event.
