page_title: National Liberation Day of Korea
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: National Liberation Day of Korea / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Surrender of Japanese Forces in southern Korea, September 1945. Lowering the Japanese flag, during surrender ceremonies at Japanese General Government Building, Keijo (now Seoul), Chosen (now Korea), 9 September 1945. Deutsch: Mit dem Einholen der Japanischen Flagge am 9. September 1945 vor dem Sitz des Generalgouverneurs in Keijō wird die offizielle Verwaltungsübergabe des südlichen Teiles der Provinz Chōsen an die Amerikaner vollzogen.
context_page_description: The National Liberation Day of Korea is a holiday celebrated annually on 15 August in both South and North Korea. It commemorates Victory over Japan Day, when at the end of World War II, the U.S. and Soviet forces helped end the decades-long Japanese occupation and colonized rule of Korea that lasted from 1910-1945. It is notable for being the only Korean public holiday celebrated by both South and North.
context_section_description: After the Korean Peninsula was liberated by the Allies in 1945, independent Korean governments were created three years later, on 15 August 1948, when the pro-U.S. Syngman Rhee was elected first President of South Korea and pro-Soviet Kim Il-sung was made first Leader of North Korea. Gwangbokjeol was officially designated a public holiday on 1 October 1949 in South Korea and is known as Chogukhaebangŭi nal (조국해방의 날; literally "Liberation of Fatherland Day") in North Korea.
caption: A Japanese flag at Seoul being lowered in 1945 as U.S. soldiers watch.
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