Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il: "Dedicating to Enhancing Quality of Life in the Light of Ancestors' Liberation"
Yongin Special City held the "81st Anniversary Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony" at the City Hall Ace Hall on the 15th to commemorate the 81st anniversary of liberation and reflect on the value of peace and the joy of liberation.
The event, organized by the Yongin Special City Chapter of the Korean Independence Association (Chapter Director Choi Hee-yong), was attended by approximately 300 people including Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il, National Assembly members, party cooperation committee chairs, provincial and city council members, families of independence patriots, and officials from veterans' organizations.
The ceremony opened with the screening of a video produced by the Independence Hall of Korea titled "The Light We Regained." The subsequently screened Liberation Day commemorative video introduced representatives of independence activists from Yongin and descendants of independence patriots residing in Yongin through the Yongin Special City Chapter of the Korean Independence Association, touching the hearts of participants.
Mayor Lee Sang-il presented commendations for exemplary families of independence patriots to Kim Jae-gwon, grandson and granddaughter of patriot Kim Yong-gap; Kim Jun-hee, grandson and granddaughter of patriot Kim Chi-ok; and Jeon Eun-gi, child of patriot Jeon Eul-saeng.
Mayor Lee expressed his respect, stating, "This ceremony should not end in a single day, but we must earnestly engrave in our hearts the light of liberation that our ancestors reclaimed through their own strength throughout all 365 days of the year." He added, "I express gratitude to the Korean Independence Association and veterans' organizations who made efforts to host this 81st Anniversary Liberation Day celebration, and I also extend my thanks to the descendants and bereaved families of independence patriots who participated in this event."
Chapter Director Choi stated, "I am pleased to share the joy of liberation, which the independence heroes accomplished 81 years ago, with our citizens," and added, "It is the responsibility of our generation to remember that we should never again lose national sovereignty to foreign powers and to carry forward that resolve."
In the subsequently screened Liberation Day commemorative video, the Yongin Special City Chapter of the Korean Independence Association introduced representatives of independence activists from Yongin and descendants of independence patriots residing in Yongin, moving the participants.
As a celebratory performance, tenor Professor Lee Sang-ho performed the aria "Nessun Dorma" (None Shall Sleep) from Puccini's opera "Turandot," recalling the steadfast will of independence activists. Soprano Professor Kim Hee-jung performed the representative aria "Ah! Je veux vivre" (I Want to Live) from "Romeo and Juliet," offering a bright and beautiful melody. Finally, the two vocalists performed a duet of the Italian song "O sole mio" (O My Sun), celebrating the joy of liberation bathed in brilliant light.