'KPop Demon Hunters' songwriter Ejae composes Aug. 15 song: Veterans Ministry
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs released a commemorative song, 'Keep The Light,' for Korea's 80th Liberation Day at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The song was composed by Ejae, who rose to instant stardom after writing and singing 'Golden,' the soaring anthem from Netflix's megahit film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' which took the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
According to the ministry, the new track pays tribute and expresses gratitude to the patriots and independence fighters who sacrificed themselves for the liberation of Korea amid numerous national crises. The song delivers its message through a powerful K-pop beat and fast rap.
The chorus was crafted to inspire hope and pride among young Koreans, encouraging them to carry forward the legacy of liberation, it said.
The ministry added that the lyrics and choreography were created by YouTuber Friendshiping, rapper Mirani, singer Hyunjin and dancer Amy, who recently formed the project group TDYA.
TDYA will give its first live performance during the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Friday.
The entire music production process is also being showcased as a separate video on the YouTube channel Studio USOG.
'Keep The Light' will be released on multiple local music streaming platforms, including Melon and Genie Music.
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Korea Herald
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Resistance, poetry and bullets: Films for liberation day
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Shot in black and white, this biographical film follows poet Yun Dong-ju during his final years under Japanese rule, when writing in Korean itself became an act of rebellion. The film unfolds through flashbacks as Dong-ju (Kang Ha-neul) faces interrogation by Japanese authorities. We watch his evolution from an idealistic student to a young man caught between artistic expression and political reality. His cousin Song Mong-gyu (Park Jung-min), a fiery revolutionary, pulls him toward active resistance, while Dong-ju struggles with whether poetry alone can serve his country. This isn't your typical resistance drama — it trades heroics for restraint. Lee and screenwriter Shin Yeon-shick let the weight of the era accumulate through telling details: the moment Korean becomes a forbidden language, the pressure to adopt Japanese names, the way even studying literature requires moral compromise. Kang Ha-neul, better known for lighter commercial fare, delivers a remarkably nuanced performance, especially as Dong-ju's poems are recited aloud against the backdrop of the brutal reality that inspired them. Neither pure heroism nor violent resistance offers clear-cut answers here. When Dong-ju and Mong-gyu finally reunite in a Japanese prison, the revelation lands with quiet devastation. It's a portrait of how oppression crushes not just bodies but spirits, and how art endures even when the artist doesn't. Available with English subtitles on Amazon Video. "The Age of Shadows" (2016) If "Dongju" whispers, Kim Jee-woon's espionage thriller roars. Set in the 1920s, this lavish cat-and-mouse game follows colonial police captain Lee Jung-chool (Song Kang-ho) as he navigates the treacherous space between his Japanese employers and Korean freedom fighters. The film opens with a bravura sequence. 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Korea Herald
10 hours ago
- Korea Herald
'KPop Demon Hunters' songwriter Ejae composes Aug. 15 song: Veterans Ministry
TDYA to stage 1st live performance of Liberation Day song at Gwanghwamun on Friday The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs released a commemorative song, 'Keep The Light,' for Korea's 80th Liberation Day at 6 p.m. Thursday. The song was composed by Ejae, who rose to instant stardom after writing and singing 'Golden,' the soaring anthem from Netflix's megahit film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' which took the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to the ministry, the new track pays tribute and expresses gratitude to the patriots and independence fighters who sacrificed themselves for the liberation of Korea amid numerous national crises. The song delivers its message through a powerful K-pop beat and fast rap. The chorus was crafted to inspire hope and pride among young Koreans, encouraging them to carry forward the legacy of liberation, it said. The ministry added that the lyrics and choreography were created by YouTuber Friendshiping, rapper Mirani, singer Hyunjin and dancer Amy, who recently formed the project group TDYA. TDYA will give its first live performance during the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, Friday. The entire music production process is also being showcased as a separate video on the YouTube channel Studio USOG. 'Keep The Light' will be released on multiple local music streaming platforms, including Melon and Genie Music.
Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
'KPop Demon Hunters' songwriter Ejae composes Aug. 15 commemorative song: Veterans Ministry
TDYA to stage 1st live performance of Liberation Day song at Gwanghwamun on Friday The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced it will release a commemorative song, 'Keep The Light,' for Korea's 80th National Liberation Day at 6 p.m. on Thursday. The song was composed by Ejae, who rose to instant stardom after writing and singing 'Golden,' the soaring anthem from Netflix's megahit film 'KPop Demon Hunters,' which took the No. 1 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. According to the ministry, the new track pays tribute and expresses gratitude to the patriots and independence fighters who sacrificed themselves for the liberation of Korea amid numerous national crises. The song delivers its message through a powerful K-pop beat and fast rap. The chorus was crafted to inspire hope and pride among young Koreans, encouraging them to carry forward the legacy of liberation, it said. The ministry added that the lyrics and choreography were created by YouTuber Friendshiping, rapper Mirani, singer Hyunjin and dancer Amy, who recently formed the project group TDYA. TDYA will give its first live performance during the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, central Seoul, on Friday. The entire music production process is also being showcased as a separate YouTube video on the YouTube channel Studio USOG. 'Keep The Light' will be released on multiple local music streaming platforms, including Melon, Genie Music and others.
