Seoul's Jung-gu district (district mayor Kim Gil-sung) will mark the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day with a special nighttime historical walk, "Jangchungdan Yahaeng," tracing the history of Jangchungdan Park and reflecting on the meaning of Korea's liberation.
The program invites participants to stroll through Jangchungdan Park on a summer evening alongside a cultural tourism guide, following in the footsteps of the independence movement. Family-friendly hands-on activities are also included.
The program runs for approximately one hour starting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Thursday, Aug. 14. It is a special Liberation Day revival of "Jangchungdan, the Road of National Defense," a guided walking tour that has been on hiatus during the peak summer heat.
Participants will set off from in front of the Memory Exhibition Hall at Jangchungdan Park and visit, in order, the Jangchungdan Stele, the Paris Peace Appeal Stele of the Korean Confucian Independence Movement, the statue of independence activist Yi Jun, the memorial stele of Yi Han-eung, and the statue of Yu Gwan-sun. At each stop, the cultural tourism guide will bring to life the history of Jangchungdan and the stories of independence activists, highlighting the spirit of patriotism and the struggle for liberation.
Before the walk begins, participants can decorate fans using Taegukgi and hibiscus stickers. After the tour, an online form will be used to conduct a history quiz and survey, and selected participants will receive beverage coupons drawn by lottery.
The program is open to all. Forty spots are available each day, for a total of 80. Registration can be completed through the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public reservation system or by contacting the Sports and Tourism Division. Jung-gu residents will be given priority, and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Jangchungdan was established by Emperor Gojong to honor soldiers who died during the Eulmi Incident, making it Korea's first national cemetery. Though the site suffered damage during the Japanese colonial period, the Jangchungdan Stele and memorials to independence activists were restored after liberation, and the park has since become one of the city's foremost historical and cultural spaces.
"I hope this walk through Jangchungdan Park on Liberation Day will be a meaningful occasion to reflect on the sacrifices of our forebears and the significance of liberation," district mayor Kim said. "We will consistently develop programs that make Jung-gu's rich historical and cultural heritage easy and engaging to experience, and continue building a platform for sharing our history."
Jung-gu currently operates 11 cultural heritage walking tour routes. During the peak summer heat in July and August, the district focuses on evening programs, running "Jeongdong Night Stroll" (Tuesdays and Thursdays), "Gwanghuimun Moonlight Road" (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), and "Myeongdong Square, Walking in Light" (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Reservations can be made through the Jung-gu district office website or the Seoul Metropolitan Government's public reservation system.
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