Many ways to celebrate a milestone

In celebrating the 60th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, the nation reveled in a festive mood yesterday, with various commemorative events centered in the Gwanghwamun area of Seoul.
The national liberation celebration ceremony, beginning at 10 a.m., was attended by President Roh Moo-hyun, who said, “It is our historic calling to open a new era of national integration.” High-ranking government officials, VIPs and descendants of independence fighters also participated in a lighting ceremony.
After the official ceremony, video footage of inline skating teams that have traveled around the country was shown, followed by music performances by trot, dance, rock and hip-hop singers.
At noon, the mayor of Seoul and officials of the Independence association, whose members were involved in the independence movement, gathered to ring the Bosingak bell 33 times in the hope for unification and prosperity. In the afternoon, a military parade took place on Sejongno, along with performances by Koreans living overseas, foreign migrant workers and troupes from China and Japan.
The evening’s festivities included an inter-Korean event in the Namdaemun area which North Korean representatives were scheduled to attend, as well as a concert by the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra at City Hall.

by Choi Jie-ho