Liberation Day

Liberation Day is a holiday that marks the liberation of Korea from 35 years of Japanese imperial rule in 1945 after the end of the second world war.

This is one of the few holidays celebrated on the whole of the Korean peninsula. The Korean diaspora all over the world will join in the celebrations by sharing a meal of bibimbap (a rice dish) and kimchi (a vegetable dish), singing Korean folk songs, or playing a game of yut, a traditional board game played in Korea. In North Korea, it is typical to schedule weddings on the holiday.

The holiday is often celebrated with a military parade on Kim Il-sung Square on jubilee years (ex: 25th anniversary, 40th anniversary, 50th anniversary, 60th anniversary, 70th anniversary) with the attendance of the Chairman of the State Affairs Commission and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of North Korea.

When: August 15